The ongoing war of words between Disney and Google has intensified, particularly as the blackout of ESPN, ABC, and other Disney networks on YouTube TV enters its fourth day. This blackout stems from a contentious fee dispute that began when the companies' previous agreement expired on October 30 at midnight ET. Disney has made a request for Google to restore ABC to YouTube TV customers in time for Election Night coverage on November 4. However, Google has declined this proposal, suggesting that Disney should allow YouTube TV to bring back ABC and ESPN while they negotiate a new agreement.
According to Google, Disney is demanding a significant fee increase for the entire suite of networks, which they consider unprecedented. In contrast, Disney claims that Google is not willing to pay what they deem to be "fair rates" for their channels. The fallout from this dispute has left YouTube TV subscribers without access to popular channels, which has raised concerns about customer satisfaction and access to essential programming.
On Monday afternoon, YouTube shared an internal email that was sent to Disney leadership regarding the request to restore ABC for a limited 24-hour period. The email emphasized the importance of prioritizing customer needs, stating, "We agree that the right priority here is to give customers what they want." However, YouTube also cautioned that a temporary restoration of ABC would create confusion among viewers, as they might only have access to the channel briefly before losing it again.
The YouTube email highlighted that there are numerous alternatives for obtaining election news, citing that election information is widely accessible through other broadcast stations and news networks available on YouTube TV, as well as on the main YouTube platform at no cost. The email pointed out that during the last two U.S. election days, most YouTube TV subscribers opted not to watch ABC.
In a bid to resolve the situation, YouTube proposed to fully restore Disney channels, particularly ABC and the ESPN networks, while negotiations continue. The email concluded with an offer to mobilize operational teams swiftly, stating, "If you agree with our proposal and give us approval, we can get our operational teams together and get these channels live in hours." This proposal emphasizes the need for collaboration between Disney and Google to meet subscriber demands effectively.
As the dispute unfolds, many Disney networks remain unavailable on YouTube TV. The full list of channels affected includes:
ABC local stations ESPN ESPN2 ESPNU ESPNews Freeform FX FXX FXM Disney Channel Disney Junior Disney XD SEC Network Nat Geo Nat Geo Wild ABC News Live ACC Network Localish ESPN Deportes (Spanish plan) Baby TV Español (Spanish plan) Nat Geo Mundo (Spanish plan)Disney has stated that they have submitted a renewal proposal to Google and are currently awaiting a response. As this situation develops, subscribers are left hoping for a resolution that will restore access to their favorite channels and programming.
