YouTube TV customers watched ESPN go dark Thursday night as talks between the Google-owned platform and sports network broke down, leading the channel — along with other Disney-operated channels — to disappear from the platform.
A deal between the two sides could not be reached, and by late Thursday night, the stations, which include ABC, FX, Disney Jr. and National Geographic, along with ESPN channels, went dark for more than 10 million YouTube TV customers, escalating the prolonged back-and-forth between the two sides.
At the heart of the issues is pricing, according to Sports Business Journal, with both sides pointing the finger at the other in dueling statements released on Thursday night.
“Unfortunately, Google’s YouTube TV has chosen to deny their subscribers the content they value most by refusing to pay fair rates for our channels, including ESPN and ABC,” Disney said in a statement. “Without a new agreement in place, their subscribers will not have access to our programming, which includes the best lineup in live sports – anchored by the NFL, NBA, and college football, with 13 of the top 25 college teams playing this weekend. With a $3 trillion market cap, Google is using its market dominance to eliminate competition and undercut the industry-standard terms we’ve successfully negotiated with every other distributor.”
Google countered, accusing Disney of trying to push digital consumers to platforms it owns and has programming similar to YouTube TV.
“Last week Disney used the threat of a blackout on YouTube TV as a negotiating tactic to force deal terms that would raise prices on our customers,” Google’s statement read, per SBJ. “They’re now following through on that threat, suspending their content on YouTube TV. This decision directly harms our subscribers while benefiting their own live TV products, including Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.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 it will offer customers a $20 credit if ESPN and other Disney-owned content remain off the platform for “an extended period of time.”
The blackout comes ahead of a big slate of college football games this weekend on both ABC and ESPN.
The matchups include No. 9 Vanderbilt facing No. 20 Texas on ABC, No. 5 Georgia vs. Florida on ABC, No. 18 Oklahoma at No. 14 Tennessee on ABC and No. 17 Cincinnati at No. 24 Utah on ESPN.
Sports fans will also be unable to watch ESPN’s signature college football pregame show, “College Gameday,” which will be on-site in Salt Lake City, Utah, this Saturday.
YouTube TV has been in several carriage disputes over the past few months, including with Fox and Comcast.
However, those were resolved before they reached the blackout stage.
