After two weeks of viewers being unable to access Disney channels such as ESPN, ABC, and FX on YouTube TV, and amid considerable finger-pointing between the companies, Google and Disney finally agreed on a multi-year deal to retain Disney's live TV channels on YouTube TV, ending a highly publicized licensing dispute and channel blackout that disrupted many viewers.
That's a major part of YouTube TV's business, and you can bet that now that its dispute with Disney is over, the Google-owned streaming service wants to win back some of those subscribers who left, and it appears it's already on the case.
According to reports on Reddit, Google is trying to convince former YouTube TV subscribers to return to the service by offering $60 off on their first month back. Considering YouTube TV costs $83 a month, $60 off is a considerable amount, equating to 72 percent off for the first month.
The promotional offer is being sent via email to former YouTube TV subscribers, but it's unclear how widespread it is: some Redditors who used to subscribe to YouTube TV have received it, while others haven't yet.
YouTube TV
- Simultaneous streams
- 3
- # of profiles
- 6
- Live TV
- Yes
- Price
- Starts at $83 /month
- Free trial
- Yes, length varies
Some YouTube TV subscribers who didn't cancel feel left out
You may have a promotional offer waiting for you on YouTube TV under the Manage Plan section of your account
While YouTube offered subscribers who stayed with the service during the Disney dispute a $20 credit, some loyal subscribers feel they've been shortchanged after seeing the $60 discount Google is now providing to those who canceled.
"So the $10 [off] for 6 month deal was only for people who cancelled or paused previously and now this $60 deal is for those who did cancel during the fight with the mouse," one Redditor commented. "Those of us who quietly stayed the course get our $20 -- but the real money goes to those customers who left. Seems about right."
However, some Redditors who haven't canceled YouTube TV claim they received an offer of $10 off per month for six months, in addition to the $20 credit. To check if you might be eligible, open YouTube TV and click on your profile picture, then go to Settings > Membership > Manage Plan to see if you have any offers pending.
The 15-day blackout of Disney content on YouTube TV understandably angered many subscribers, with YouTube TV stating, "We apologize for the disruption and appreciate our subscribers’ patience as we negotiated on their behalf."
While the blackout was a hassle, at least it seems Google secured some benefits for YouTube TV subscribers, especially sports fans. According to Awful Announcing, the new carriage deal between YouTube TV and Disney includes an agreement to provide YouTube TV subscribers with access to ESPN Unlimited in the near future. Additionally, ESPN Unlimited will be integrated into the YouTube TV app in 2026, so users won't need to switch between different apps to watch all of its sports content.