Overview
- Negotiations have shifted from ESPN’s price, which reports say is largely settled, to ABC’s fees and the packaging of ancillary Disney networks such as FX, Freeform and National Geographic.
- Google seeks parity rates with a clause that would lower prices once YouTube TV becomes the largest distributor, a provision Disney worries could trigger most‑favored‑nation impacts across other deals.
- Disney CEO Bob Iger says the company’s proposal matches terms other large distributors accepted, while CFO Hugh Johnston signaled the company is prepared for a prolonged standoff and built a hedge into guidance.
- The outage has deprived roughly 10 million households of ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels, costing viewers two Monday Night Football games and multiple college football slates with a third weekend at risk.
- YouTube TV is offering a one‑time $20 credit to subscribers as reports note renewed momentum with direct involvement from Iger and Google’s Sundar Pichai, though no agreement has been reached.