Google’s YouTube and Walt Disney announced on Friday that they have reached an agreement to reinstate Disney-owned networks on YouTube TV. This resolution comes after a fee dispute left millions without access to US Election Day broadcasts and major live sports.
Disney channels, including ABC, ESPN, FX, and National Geographic, will be available on YouTube TV starting Friday, according to statements from both companies.
Additionally, ESPN’s full sports lineup, featuring ESPN Unlimited content, will be accessible to base-plan subscribers at no additional cost by the end of 2026, YouTube confirmed.
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The disagreement, focused on carriage fees, which are the per-subscriber rates distributors pay to host broadcast and cable networks, caused Disney’s channels to go dark on October 30 on one of the largest pay-TV platforms in the US.
Walt Disney did not respond immediately to inquiries about the financial terms. YouTube stated that it would not reveal the terms of the agreement.
CNBC previously reported that Disney was seeking rates similar to those paid by major distributors, around $10 per subscriber per month for ESPN.
YouTube TV’s rapid expansion as a pay-TV service, combined with Google’s vast financial backing, provides greater negotiating power with media companies, allowing it to function with less immediate financial pressure than traditional providers.
The platform has been engaged in negotiations and carriage disputes with major media companies threatening to withdraw their networks.
Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger mentioned on Thursday that the company proposed a deal “equal to or better than what other large distributors have agreed to” in their discussions with YouTube TV.
Concerns over a prolonged conflict regarding the distribution of Disney’s TV networks have worried investors about the future of its declining TV segment.
Walt Disney did not meet quarterly revenue expectations as its cable TV weaknesses overshadowed growth in streaming and parks.
Dispute Consequences
Sports programming was a casualty of the dispute, with YouTube TV users missing the November 3 “Monday Night Football” game between the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys. Disney requested YouTube TV restore ABC for US Election Day coverage on November 4, citing public interest, but the service rejected the proposal, stating a one-day return would confuse customers. YouTube previously stated that Disney used the “threat of a blackout” as a negotiating tactic to enforce terms that would increase prices for customers.
Disney claimed YouTube TV was “demanding preferential treatment with lower rates and rejecting terms accepted by other partners, including Disney’s own services like Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.”
Affected Disney networks included FX, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Disney Channel, and ABC News Live.
YouTube TV had offered a $20 credit to its pay-TV subscribers if Disney networks remained unavailable for an extended period.
Following a challenging negotiation process, YouTube TV reached an agreement with Comcast-owned NBCUniversal to keep NBC shows like “Sunday Night Football” and “America’s Got Talent” on the platform.
Earlier this year, YouTube TV concluded similarly complex negotiations with Fox and Paramount, securing continued access to those networks despite initial disputes.
