YouTube TV issues $20 credit amid Disney channel blackout

YouTube TV began issuing $20 credits to subscribers starting Sunday, November 9, with all eligible customers set to receive their credits by November 12, as compensation for an ongoing blackout of Disney-owned channels that began October 30thewrap.
The blackout affects approximately 10 million subscribers who have lost access to ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel, FX, and other Disney networks, including key sports programming during college football and basketball seasonsnytimes.
The dispute centers on carriage fees, with Google accusing Disney of demanding excessively high rates that would raise customer prices, while Disney contends that Google is “refusing to pay fair rates for our channels”thewrap.
A survey found that 24% of YouTube TV subscribers have already canceled or plan to cancel their subscriptions due to the missing content, while 30% reported subscribing to alternative services like Hulu + Live TV to access Disney programmingvariety.

YouTube TV to Issue $20 Credit for Disney Channel Blackout

YouTube TV began issuing $20 credits to subscribers on Sunday, November 9, as an ongoing contract dispute with The Walt Disney Company continues to leave approximately 10 million customers without access to ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel, FX, and other Disney-owned networks. All eligible subscribers will receive their credits by Wednesday, November 12.thewrap

The blackout, which began just before midnight Eastern Time on October 30, marks the 10th day that YouTube TV users have been unable to watch 21 Disney-owned channels, including coverage of college football, Monday Night Football, and other live sports programming. YouTube TV, which costs $82.99 per month for its base plan, promised the credits would apply if Disney content remained unavailable for an “extended period”.aol

Dispute Centers on Carriage Fees

The standoff revolves around the per-subscriber fees Disney charges YouTube TV for access to its content. Google , YouTube TV’s parent company, has accused Disney of proposing “costly economic terms that would raise prices on YouTube TV customers and give our customers fewer choices”. Disney counters that Google is “refusing to pay fair rates for our channels”.aol

According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Google has sought more favorable rates than typically offered to the third-largest pay-TV provider, arguing that YouTube TV is the only major distributor experiencing growth and expects to surpass industry leaders Charter and Comcast within two years. Disney maintains it has offered YouTube TV terms similar to those negotiated with other major distributors.latimes

Subscriber Frustration Mounts

A survey of approximately 1,100 U.S. consumers conducted this week by market research firm Drive Research found that 24% of YouTube TV subscribers have already canceled or plan to cancel their subscriptions, citing that the service “no longer delivers the core content they signed up for”. Additionally, 30% reported subscribing or planning to subscribe directly to ESPN or Hulu + Live TV to maintain access to desired programming.variety

“We know that subscribers are frustrated with the disruption and we continue to urge Disney to work with us constructively to reach a fair agreement that restores their networks to YouTube TV as soon as possible,” YouTube said in a statement Saturday. The company added that if Disney accepts a proposed agreement, channels could be restored “within hours”.aol

This marks the third consecutive year Disney has experienced an extended blackout on a major provider, following an 11-day dispute with Charter in 2023 and a 13-day standoff with DirecTV in 2024.businessinsider