Following a two-week blackout, YouTube TV and Disney have successfully reached an agreement to restore Disney networks like ABC, ESPN, and FX on YouTube’s streaming TV service. The deal also includes making ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer service available on YouTube TV at no extra cost. Additionally, YouTube TV will have the ability to offer select Disney networks and the Disney+/Hulu bundle in various packages.
In a joint statement, Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden, alongside ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro, highlighted the focus of the deal on providing YouTube TV subscribers with increased flexibility and choice while recognizing the value of Disney’s programming.
YouTube TV users can expect the reinstatement of affected channels throughout the day, with the company expressing gratitude for subscribers’ patience during the negotiation process. The service, catering to cord-cutters as a cable TV alternative, has encountered disputes with major content providers in the past, often related to financial terms and content package configurations.
Notably, this isn’t the first blackout incident between YouTube and Disney, as a similar albeit shorter blackout occurred during their 2022 renegotiation. To address the disruption, YouTube offered affected customers a $20 credit towards their next bill.
Source: TechCrunch