Disney-YouTube TV Dispute Blackouts ESPN, Impacts 10M Subscribers

YouTube TV subscribers experienced a blackout of Disney-owned channels including ESPN and ABC starting October 31, 2025, due to a failed licensing agreement between YouTube TV and Disney. This dispute affects over 10 million subscribers, depriving them of access to major sports content such as college football, NBA, NHL, and Monday Night Football during a critical sports weekend. Disney accuses YouTube TV of trying to undercut the value of its content and eliminate competition, while YouTube TV criticizes Disney for demanding steep carriage fee increases despite declining viewership on many channels. Subscribers who purchased NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube TV face additional frustration as the add-on requires an active YouTube TV subscription, trapping them in a service that lacks the Disney channels and forcing them to either pay for a diminished package or lose their Sunday Ticket access. Disney is encouraging subscribers to pressure YouTube TV to accept its offer, and while disputes like this often resolve quickly, the blackout continues to push sports fans toward Disney-owned streaming services such as Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or ESPN's standalone service. YouTube TV has promised a $20 credit if the blackout persists for an extended period but this offer falls short of compensating for the loss of key sports programming.