Overview
- Disney-owned networks including ESPN and ABC were restored on YouTube TV after a 15-day outage, the longest carriage dispute yet for Disney.
- Both companies confirmed a multi-year agreement, with Disney indicating that select networks may be offered in genre-specific packages on YouTube TV.
- The conflict centered on the value of Disney networks such as ESPN, with Google saying Disney’s proposed rates would have required a second price increase this year.
- During the blackout, YouTube TV issued a one-time $20 credit to subscribers, and rivals like Fubo and Hulu + Live TV likely drew added interest.
- Disney’s latest 10-K warns that distribution contracts expiring in fiscal 2026 could trigger more blackouts, and analysts expect similar clashes to be more common next year.