US pay-TV platform YouTube TV on Thursday announced that it is ending its carriage of a range of networks owned by The Walt Disney Company, including key channels such as ESPN and ABC, after the two companies failed to agree on terms for a new licensing deal.
The streaming-TV service said in a post on its X account (formerly Twitter) that “our contract with Disney has reached its renewal date, and we’ll not agree to terms that disadvantage our members while benefiting Disney’s TV products.” The channels are slated for removal at midnight Eastern Time (ET). YouTube TV said that if the blackout persists “for an extended period of time,” it will offer subscribers a one-time credit of US$20. The platform’s base monthly subscription is currently US$82.99.
The full list of networks to be pulled includes ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, Freeform, FX, FXX, FXM, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, SEC Network, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, ABC News Live and Localish. On the Spanish-language plan it also includes ESPN Deportes, Baby TV Español and Nat Geo Mundo.
The carriage dispute comes amid a broader trend of streaming and television providers renegotiating rights with major legacy media companies. Earlier this year, Google reached agreements with NBCUniversal (for channels including Sunday Night Football and America’s Got Talent) and also struck deals with Fox Corporation and Paramount Global, illustrating that YouTube TV has been active in retaining network partnerships.
Disney, for its part, criticised Google’s stance, saying the tech giant is using its “market dominance to eliminate competition and undercut the industry-standard terms we’ve successfully negotiated with every other distributor.” YouTube TV responded that Disney had threatened a blackout as a negotiation tactic and that by following through, Disney is harming subscribers while promoting its own live-TV platforms such as Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.
The move could reshape how customers access live content and sports content in the US, especially given the prominence of ESPN and ABC in sports broadcasting and general‐entertainment programming. For YouTube TV subscribers, the loss of these networks will mean either finding alternative services or accepting a reduction in the live content package. For Disney, the removal may drive some audience to its other platforms but also risks alienating users who prefer bundled or broad-based live access through third-party services.
