YouTube TV Loses ABC, ESPN, 19 Other Channels
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Disney’s channels have been removed from YouTube’s pay-TV platform after the two media giants failed to reach a new carriage agreement before Thursday’s midnight deadline passed. The blackout will leave subscribers unable to watch content from Disney networks, including ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel, FX, National Geographic and Freeform.
A deal between the two sides could not be reached, and by late Thursday night, the stations, which include ABC, FX, Disney Jr. and National Geographic, along with ESPN channels, went dark for more than 10 million YouTube TV customers, escalating the prolonged back-and-forth between the two sides.
Disney countered in a statement to Variety, saying, “This is the latest example of Google exploiting its position at the expense of their own customers,” and they request “our partners to pay fair rates.” But their current contract expires on October 30, at 11:59 p.m., and there seems to be no short-term extension in sight.
The merger forms the second largest virtual pay-TV provider in the U.S. with an estimated six million subscribers.
Google’s YouTube TV is adding two channels from Bloomberg Media to its lineup, one with live 24-hour news and the other with the media company’s original series and documentaries.
YouTube TV and Disney are negotiating a renewed distribution agreement, and if a deal—or an extension of talks—isn’t agreed to by Friday, ESPN and ABC would likely go dark on the platform. Alternatively,
YouTube TV and Disney offer respective statements regarding the ongoing negotiations to keep content on the air for subscribers.
YouTube TV's current distribution deal with Disney expires October 30, and it could leave subscribers without channels like ABC and ESPN.