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YouTube TV Drops Disney Channels After Failed Negotiations
31 Oct
Summary
- YouTube TV and Disney fail to reach new carriage agreement
- Disney accuses YouTube TV of trying to use market dominance
- YouTube TV argues Disney's terms would raise prices for customers
On October 31, 2025, it was announced that YouTube TV will be dropping Disney-owned programming, including ABC, ESPN, and other channels, after the two companies failed to reach a new carriage agreement.
According to a YouTube spokesperson, this is a "frustrating and disappointing outcome" for their subscribers. Disney had been warning YouTube TV users about the possibility of a programming blackout last week, accusing the Google-owned streaming platform of trying to use its market dominance to pressure the company into an unfavorable deal below market terms.
However, YouTube TV argued that Disney was proposing "costly economic terms" that would raise prices on YouTube TV customers and give them fewer choices, while benefitting Disney's Hulu + Live TV service. The two companies were unable to reach a compromise.
This latest carriage deal comes after Disney reached agreements with other major providers like DirecTV, Charter Communications, and Dish, while YouTube TV has also secured deals with Fox and NBCUniversal. But the platform has yet to reach an agreement with TelevisaUnivision, whose programming has been unavailable on YouTube TV since September 30.
