YouTube TV certainly seems to have a habit of getting into agreement issues, and its latest spat is with Disney. Over 20 Disney-owned channels were recently removed from YouTube TV after the companies couldn't agree on a new channel distribution deal before their October 30 deadline.
Google has promised YouTube TV subscribers a $20 credit if Disney channels remain unavailable on the service for an extended period.
"We know this is a frustrating and disappointing outcome for our subscribers and we continue to urge Disney to work with us constructively to reach a fair agreement that restores their networks to YouTube TV," Google said in its most recent statement.
YouTube TV
- Simultaneous streams
- 3
- # of profiles
- 6
- Live TV
- Yes
- Price
- Starts at $83 /month
This is déjà vu for YouTube TV
It has already had three agreement disputes this year
This isn't the first time Google has had an agreement issue come to light, and it likely won't be the last.
Earlier this year, Google was on the verge of losing all of Paramount's channels on YouTube TV, including CBS, CBS Sports, and Nickelodeon, but both parties reached a last-minute deal to avoid removal. In August, a similar issue arose with Fox, and a last-minute agreement was reached to retain all of Fox's channels, like Fox News, Fox Sports, and FS1. More recently, YouTube TV clashed with NBCUniversal, but once again, a deal was finalized at the last moment to keep NBC channels on the platform.
The last time YouTube TV lost access to Disney channels was in 2021, but the two companies managed to reach an agreement and restore the channels after just one day of them being unavailable.
It remains unclear whether a settlement will be reached as quickly this time, since both sides are publicly pointing fingers at each other. Google claims Disney is doing this to benefit its own live TV services, such as Hulu+ Live TV and Fubo, while Disney states Google is trying to "eliminate competition and undercut the industry-standard terms."
What Disney channels have been removed from YouTube TV?
Here is a full list of all the Disney-owned channels that have been pulled from YouTube TV:
- ABC and ABC News Live
- ACC Network
- Baby TV Español
- Disney XD
- Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU
- ESPNews
- ESPN Deportes
- Freeform
- FX
- FXX
- Localish
- Nat Geo
- Nat Geo Wild
- Nat Geo Mundo
- SEC Network