After a 15-day blackout of Disney-owned channels on YouTube TV, The Walt Disney Company and Google’s YouTube TV have reached a multi-year carriage agreement, restoring programming for roughly 10 million subscribers. The blackout, which began on October 30, 2025, marked the longest disruption in Disney’s history with any distributor.
The new deal resolves a fee dispute while providing subscribers access to live sports, news, and entertainment just in time for key November events. Financial terms remain undisclosed.
Blackout Duration and Affected Channels
- Duration: October 30 – November 14, 2025 (15 days)
- Channels Restored: Full Disney suite, including:
- ABC (local stations)
- ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network, ACC Network
- FX
- National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild
- Freeform
- Disney Channel
- ABC News Live
- DVR Recordings: Restored alongside live programming
During the blackout, YouTube TV offered a $20 one-time credit to affected subscribers. Despite the disruption, there was no immediate price hike announced, though analysts predict increases in 2026 due to rising carriage fees.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2025 | Previous Disney–YouTube TV contract expired; channels go dark |
| Nov 3–10, 2025 | Subscribers miss two Monday Night Football games and multiple college football weekends |
| Nov 4–5, 2025 | Election coverage blackout; Disney requests temporary ABC restoration (denied) |
| Nov 9, 2025 | YouTube TV issues $20 credit to subscribers |
| Nov 14, 2025 | Multi-year deal announced; channels begin restoration |
| End of 2026 | Selected ESPN Unlimited content included in base plan at no extra cost |
Dispute Details
The core issue was carriage fees:
- Disney’s Position: Demanded rates consistent with other distributors, citing the high value of live sports and broadcast content.
- YouTube TV’s Position: Argued that Disney’s demands were excessive, would force subscriber price increases, and reduce package flexibility.
Public accusations flew:
- YouTube TV: Claimed Disney leveraged the blackout to drive viewers to Hulu + Live TV.
- Disney: Accused YouTube TV of seeking below-market rates while using Google’s market power.
Terms of the New Agreement
- Full Restoration: All Disney linear networks and ABC local stations return.
- Future Flexibility: Options for “skinny” or genre-specific bundles (sports-only, entertainment-only).
- Integration of Disney+/Hulu Duo: Included in select YouTube TV offerings.
- ESPN Unlimited: By end-2026, select live and on-demand content from Disney’s new streaming service will be available to YouTube TV base subscribers at no extra cost.
Both sides emphasized that the deal preserves subscriber value while allowing future flexibility.
Impact on Subscribers and Programming
Subscribers missed high-profile programming:
- College Football: Multiple ABC/ESPN Saturday games
- NFL: Monday Night Football on Nov 3 and Nov 10
- News: ABC Election Night coverage
- Entertainment: Shows including Good Morning America, The View, Dancing with the Stars, Bluey, and more
YouTube TV applied a $20 credit automatically or claimable online. Surveys suggested up to 24% of subscribers considered canceling, though the platform described churn as “manageable.”
Industry Context
The dispute is part of a broader trend of high-profile carriage conflicts:
- Disney–Charter, 2023
- Disney–DirecTV, 2024
These conflicts highlight the tension between:
- Programmers (like Disney): Seeking higher fees to cover rising sports rights costs
- Virtual MVPDs (vMVPDs like YouTube TV): Pushing back against higher fees and advocating for flexible packages amid cord-cutting pressures
Analysts view the deal as a qualified win for Disney, securing higher fees while giving YouTube TV enough flexibility to maintain subscriber retention. The base price of $82.99/month is expected to rise by $5–$10 in 2026 to offset carriage costs.
Conclusion
The Disney–YouTube TV blackout underscores the fragile economics of live TV streaming. Rising programming costs, cord-cutting pressures, and the expansion of direct-to-consumer offerings like ESPN Unlimited will likely continue to produce disputes in the evolving pay-TV landscape.
With this deal, subscribers regain access to Disney content just in time for major sports and entertainment programming, while both companies set the stage for future flexibility and bundled offering
