Disney Yanks All Channels from YouTube TV as Both Companies Volley for Subscribers and Streaming Advantage

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Just before midnight on October 30-31, 2025, all of Disney’s TV channels—including ABC, ESPN, FX, Freeform, Disney Channel, and National Geographic—disappeared from YouTube TV. This happened because Disney and YouTube TV couldn’t agree on a new deal before their previous agreement ended, leaving viewers unable to watch those channels.

We tried our best to come to an agreement, but unfortunately, we haven’t been able to. As a result, Disney content will no longer be available on YouTube TV. This includes channels like ABC and ESPN, and you won’t be able to access any previously recorded shows from those networks.

— YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) October 31, 2025

YouTube TV, the most popular streaming TV service in the US, is currently experiencing a blackout that affects millions of viewers – likely between 8 and 10 million or more. This means all of Disney’s channels are unavailable on YouTube TV, including live sports on ESPN, local news on ABC, and other popular programming.

Besides losing access to live TV channels, you might also temporarily be unable to watch on-demand shows or your DVR recordings from those same networks during the blackout.

Both sides have their reasons for entrenched battle.

  • YouTube TV says Disney was the reason their channels went dark. Google, which owns YouTube TV, claims Disney wanted a deal that would have increased prices for viewers and helped Disney’s own competing streaming services, like Hulu + Live TV. Google believes this was a way for Disney to pressure them, and they’re offering a $20 credit to customers if the channels remain unavailable for a long time.

  • Disney claims Google wouldn’t pay a reasonable price to carry its channels, which hurts the standard practice of how much TV channels are paid. Disney has previously stated that channels like ESPN are worth more money and deserve higher fees.

Okay, so everyone’s talking about Disney and YouTube working together, but let’s be real – they’re huge rivals in the streaming world, and the competition is intense. I was shocked to learn that YouTube creators actually surpassed Disney in terms of watched content on actual TV – not just phones or tablets, but good old-fashioned television! Considering all the sports rights Disney owns, that’s a massive shift. With YouTube TV pulling ahead of Hulu by a significant margin, it’s pretty clear Disney wants to slow YouTube down and close that gap. Honestly, if streaming is the future, YouTube is way out front, Netflix is trailing behind, and Disney is currently a distant third. It’s a big deal!

So what does this mean for sports fans while the blackout is in place?

It’s particularly bad timing that YouTube TV and ESPN are in a dispute. With a busy fall sports season already underway – including college football, the start of basketball and hockey, and international racing – losing ESPN on YouTube TV is a major problem. For many families, ESPN is the primary reason they subscribe to a live TV service, so this puts pressure on both companies to resolve the issue quickly, or viewers may switch to a different provider.

YouTube TV will give customers a $20 credit if Disney channels are unavailable for a significant amount of time (YouTube hasn’t said exactly how long). Currently, YouTube TV costs $82.99 per month.

Okay, so the news is full of options for those ditching YouTube TV – things like Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and Sling are popping up everywhere, and of course, good old cable and satellite are still in the mix. But here’s the catch: prices, what channels you get, and especially local sports and ABC access, all depend on where you live. Switching will get you ESPN and ABC back, but be prepared to potentially pay about the same, or even more each month. My advice? Definitely look into free trials, carefully check the channel lists to see if they have what you want, and read the fine print about any long-term commitments before you jump ship.

How long could this last?

There’s history here on both sides:

  • Disney vs. YouTube TV (2021): A similar blackout ended after two days, once a renewal was struck.

  • In 2023, a dispute between Disney and Charter/Spectrum caused ESPN and ABC channels to be unavailable for roughly 10 to 11 days. Eventually, they reached an agreement that not only restored the channels but also added streaming benefits to cable packages. Many people saw this as a key moment that would change how these channel bundles make money.

History doesn’t necessarily repeat itself, but these situations demonstrate that major disruptions usually resolve quickly – typically within a few days or weeks – once they significantly impact customers, advertisers, sports leagues, and teams.

So what’s going to end this impasse and get Disney back on YouTube TV for subscribers?

  1. If ESPN remains unavailable throughout the weekend’s games, fans will likely become increasingly frustrated and express their disappointment on social media. This is often when compromises start to be discussed and made.

  2. Okay, so here’s the situation: both sides in this dispute could agree to a temporary fix – basically keeping the channels up while they keep talking. We’ve seen this happen before; it’s a pretty standard way to de-escalate these fights. But as of this morning, there’s no such agreement in place, which means things are still tense.

  3. Combining traditional TV packages with streaming services is becoming more common, as seen in recent agreements like the one between Disney and Charter. We might see something similar here, possibly including ESPN’s future streaming service or Disney’s current streaming platforms.

Disney is trying to stay competitive in the world of live TV streaming. YouTube’s biggest challenge is live sports, which Disney now controls the rights to. It’s unclear who will make the first move, but YouTube likely won’t raise its subscription price this year. For now, they seem determined to keep prices steady, especially since Disney recently increased prices for Hulu, potentially giving YouTube an opportunity to attract frustrated Disney+ subscribers looking for a new streaming service.

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2025-10-31 17:58