Walt Disney Co. has warned that its channels — including ESPN and ABC — could disappear from YouTube TV as the media giants battle over a new carriage deal ahead of an Oct. 30 deadline.
The standoff, which threatens to strip access to some of TV’s most popular networks from millions of subscribers, marks YouTube TV’s fourth major carriage dispute in the past several months and the latest flashpoint in the escalating cost war over streaming.
“If we don’t reach a fair deal soon, YouTube TV customers will lose access to ESPN and ABC, and all our marquee programming – including the NFL, college football, NBA and NHL seasons – and so much more,” a Disney spokesperson told the Hollywood Reporter on Thursday.
Disney began running on-air messages alerting viewers that ABC, ESPN, FX, National Geographic and Disney Channel may go dark next week if talks fail.
The Burbank, Calif.-based entertainment company accused YouTube’s owner Google of “exploiting its position at the expense of their own customers,” saying YouTube TV was “putting their subscribers at risk of losing the most valuable networks they signed up for.”
YouTube shot back that Disney was demanding “costly economic terms that would raise prices on YouTube customers and give our customers fewer choices.”
“Without an agreement, we’ll have to remove Disney’s content from YouTubeTV,” a YouTube spokesperson told the Hollywood Reporter.
The company said it has negotiated “in good faith” and promised a $20 credit to subscribers if the blackout drags on.
The feud underscores a year of mounting tension between streaming distributors and legacy programmers as retransmission fees climb and audiences fragment.
Disney’s Hulu + Live TV directly competes with YouTubeTV, while Disney is also in the process of acquiring sports streamer Fubo — a move YouTube cited as proof that Disney is seeking an upper hand.
YouTube TV’s agreement with Disney expires Oct. 30. If no deal is reached, millions could lose access to ESPN’s coverage of the NFL, college football, NBA and NHL, as well as ABC’s “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Abbott Elementary” and syndicated staples “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!”
“We invest significantly in our content and expect our partners to pay fair rates that recognize that value,” Disney stated.
The dispute caps months of friction between Google and traditional media groups.
Fox and NBCUniversal each narrowly avoided blackouts in August and early October after accusing YouTube TV of using its market dominance to push unfavorable terms.
Univision wasn’t as lucky — its channels went dark last month after fee talks collapsed.
President Trump has waded into the disputes, saying on Oct. 4 that Google should put Univision back on YouTube TV.
“For the fourth time in three months, Google’s YouTubeTV is putting their subscribers at risk,” Disney said Thursday.
The Post has sought comment from Google and Disney.
