Overview
- Disney’s full portfolio, including ABC, ESPN, FX and National Geographic, is returning to YouTube TV under a new multi-year distribution pact.
- ESPN Unlimited will be available to base-plan subscribers at no additional cost by the end of 2026, with select live and on-demand programming accessible within the YouTube TV app.
- Subscribers’ previously removed cloud DVR recordings of Disney programming are being restored to their libraries.
- The blackout lasted roughly 15 days starting around Oct. 31, interrupting college football and two Monday Night Football telecasts, and YouTube TV offered a one-time $20 credit.
- The dispute focused on carriage fees and contract terms, with reported late-stage involvement from Bob Iger and Sundar Pichai, and the deal permits optional Disney+/Hulu bundling and future genre-based channel packages.