Overview
- ABC, ESPN and other Disney networks have been off YouTube TV since Oct. 30, leaving roughly 10 million subscribers without those channels.
- YouTube said it can restore ABC and the ESPN networks within hours during negotiations if Disney agrees; Disney previously proposed a one-day ABC return for Election Day.
- An internal memo from Disney leaders says their latest offer would cost YouTube TV less than the expired deal and accuses Google of seeking below-market, preferential terms with few concessions.
- Advertisers are pressing for clarity on compensation for audience shortfalls, warning that lost reach across college football and Monday Night Football complicates fourth-quarter campaigns.
- Survey data points to elevated churn risk for YouTube TV, which Google characterizes as manageable, and early ratings for ESPN and ABC slipped during the first blackout week; YouTube has promised a one-time $20 credit if the outage persists but has not issued it yet.