Disney and YouTube TV Face Deadline as Carriage Deal With ESPN & ABC in Jeopardy

The Walt Disney Company and YouTube TV are locked in a tense renewal standoff that could see major Disney-owned channels pulled from the service as early as 30 October. 

Disney says YouTube is using its dominance to push rates below market value. YouTube claims Disney’s proposed terms would drive up subscriber prices and limit choice. 

Key channels at risk include ESPN and ABC – platforms which stream major sports including the NFL, NBA and NHL. 

YouTube TV has over 10 million U.S. subscribers. It has offered a US $20 credit if Disney’s content is blacked out for an extended period. 

The companies have negotiated tight deals before, but this marks yet another high-stakes battle in the evolving streaming-ecosystem of competing platforms and networks.