Overview
- Disney began running on-screen and social alerts telling YouTube TV customers that its channels could be removed when the contract expires Oct. 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
- YouTube TV says Disney’s terms would raise subscriber prices and says it will remove the channels without a deal, with a $20 credit if the loss lasts for an extended period.
- Negotiations include YouTube’s push to ingest or authenticate access to Disney+, Hulu and the new ESPN app, a request Disney has resisted to protect its streaming strategy.
- YouTube TV has roughly 10 million U.S. subscribers, while Disney cites Nielsen data showing its networks’ viewing on the platform is up more than 15% year over year.
- The standoff follows recent deals with NBCUniversal, Fox and Paramount as TelevisaUnivision remains dark on YouTube TV, and a judge earlier denied Disney’s effort to block YouTube’s hire of former Disney executive Justin Connolly.