On October 31, YouTube TV subscribers experienced a blackout of ESPN and other Disney-owned channels, including ABC. A licensing deal disconnect resulted in YouTube TV losing its rights to carry Disney programming. The channels went off the air before an action-packed sports weekend featuring Oklahoma at Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Texas in matchups of ranked teams, the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football, and extensive college football, NBA, and college basketball coverage.
With ESPN remaining an essential viewing platform for sports fans, the blackout affects more than 10 million subscribers who rely on YouTube TV as their primary streaming service. According to The Walt Disney Company, the dispute centers on fair pricing for premium sports content, while YouTube TV claims Disney’s demands would force subscriber price increases.
The conflict affects ABC, the ESPN networks, the Disney-branded channels, Freeform, the FX networks, and the Nat Geo channels. For millions of YouTube TV customers hoping to watch ESPN’s College GameDay, alternative viewing options became immediately necessary. Learn more about ESPN’s streaming service offerings and stay updated on NFL 2025 streaming developments.
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Active Service Disruption
As of October 31 at midnight ET, YouTube TV subscribers no longer have access to ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned channels due to a licensing dispute between Google and Disney. The blackout occurred ahead of major sports programming including 13 of the top 25 college football teams playing that weekend.
10M+
Affected Subscribers
Largest internet TV provider
18
Channels Unavailable
Including ESPN & ABC
$20
Credit Offered
For extended blackout
$82.99
Monthly Cost
YouTube TV base plan
YouTube TV subscribers faced sudden loss of access to major sports and entertainment channels
Channels No Longer Available on YouTube TV
ESPN
ESPN2
ESPNU
ESPNews
ABC
ABC News Live
Disney Channel
Disney Junior
Disney XD
FX
FXX
FXM
Freeform
National Geographic
Nat Geo Wild
SEC Network
ACC Network
Localish
Multiple streaming alternatives offer ESPN and Disney channels with varying features and pricing
Hulu + Live TV
Disney-Owned
DirecTV Stream
Full Service
Hulu + Live TV
Disney-owned streaming service with full access to ESPN, ABC, and all Disney channels. Offers live TV and on-demand content with cloud DVR. Most packages include Disney+ and ESPN+. With Disney’s recent merger of Hulu + Live TV and Fubo, the combined service now has approximately 6 million subscribers in North America.
Best for: Comprehensive Disney content access, sports fans, and families wanting all-in-one entertainment.
Fubo
Sports-focused streaming service with access to ESPN networks, ABC, and extensive sports coverage including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and international soccer. Offers cloud DVR and multiple simultaneous streams. Recently merged with Disney’s Hulu + Live TV business.
Best for: Sports enthusiasts who want comprehensive coverage across multiple leagues and international events.
Sling TV
Budget-friendly streaming option with ESPN channels available in the Sling Orange package starting at lower price points than competitors. Flexible plans allow customization of your channel lineup with add-on packages for specific interests.
Best for: Cost-conscious viewers who want basic sports coverage without premium pricing.
DirecTV Stream
Comprehensive streaming service offering ESPN, ABC, and Disney channels across multiple package tiers. No satellite dish required. Includes cloud DVR and supports multiple devices. Offers various packages from basic to premium with extensive channel lineups.
Best for: Viewers wanting traditional cable-like experience through streaming without equipment installation.
Traditional Cable Providers
Services including Cox, Dish, Spectrum TV, Xfinity, Optimum, Fios, and Mediacom all maintain active carriage agreements with Disney for ESPN and all Disney-owned channels. These providers offer various package options and bundling opportunities with internet and phone services.
Best for: Viewers preferring traditional cable reliability and those wanting bundled services with internet and phone.
ESPN App
According to
ESPN’s official press room, College GameDay is available on the ESPN App without subscription or authentication. The show also streams on Pat McAfee’s Twitter page. However, full ESPN content typically requires a TV provider login for authentication. ESPN also offers a direct-to-consumer streaming service at $29.99 that provides access to 47,000 live events annually.
Best for: Viewers wanting specific ESPN content without full cable subscription, though most premium content requires provider authentication.
October 23, 2024
Disney began alerting viewers about the potential carriage dispute with YouTube TV, warning that its networks could be removed from the service. On-screen warnings appeared during programming to inform subscribers.
October 30, 2024
Negotiations intensified as the deadline approached. YouTube TV announced plans to begin pulling Disney-owned networks at 9 p.m. PT / 12 a.m. ET. Some subscribers reported losing access even before the official deadline.
October 31, 2024
Disney channels went dark on YouTube TV after the companies failed to reach a new content distribution agreement. According to
YouTube’s official blog, Disney used “the threat of a blackout as a negotiating tactic to force deal terms that would raise prices” for subscribers. The blackout affected 18 channels including all ESPN networks and ABC.
Current Status
Negotiations continue between Google and Disney. YouTube TV is offering affected subscribers a $20 credit if Disney content remains unavailable for an extended period.
Disney claims that “with a $3 trillion market cap, Google is using its market dominance to eliminate competition and undercut the industry-standard terms.” Both companies remain committed to reaching a resolution.
Sports fans face disruptions to major weekend programming including NFL, NBA, and college football
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The Core Issue
Google and Disney failed to agree on new licensing terms for Disney-owned content. YouTube TV accused Disney of demanding rates that would force subscriber price increases, while Disney claims YouTube TV refuses to pay industry-standard fees that have been successfully negotiated with other distributors. This marks the second major blackout between the companies, with a previous two-day outage occurring in December 2021.
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Sports Programming Impact
The blackout affects major sporting events including college football games with 13 of the top 25 teams playing during the opening weekend, Monday Night Football featuring the Dallas Cowboys vs Arizona Cardinals, plus comprehensive NBA and NHL coverage. Explore our coverage of
2024 college football developments and
NBA playoff action.
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Subscriber Compensation
YouTube TV is providing a $20 one-time credit to affected subscribers if Disney content remains unavailable for an extended period. The base subscription normally costs $82.99 per month. YouTube TV also removed all DVR library recordings from Disney channels. With more than 10 million subscribers, YouTube TV is the largest internet TV provider in the United States.
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Historical Context
Disney has experienced similar carriage disputes with multiple providers in recent years. In 2024, ESPN and other Disney networks went dark on DirecTV for nearly two weeks before reaching a new deal. In 2023, Disney and Charter had a public battle before resolving their differences. This pattern of disputes continues to frustrate cord-cutters who switched to streaming to avoid such issues.
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Market Dynamics
Disney’s recent merger of Hulu + Live TV with Fubo creates a competing service with approximately 6 million subscribers in North America, placing it in second place behind YouTube TV. This consolidation adds complexity to the dispute, as Disney now owns a direct competitor to YouTube TV. Google has accused Disney’s move of benefiting its own streaming products while harming YouTube TV subscribers.
The Disney-YouTube TV blackout that began October 31 left more than 10 million subscribers without access to ESPN, ABC, and 16 other Disney-owned channels. The dispute centers on pricing disagreements for carriage rights, with both companies offering different perspectives on fair compensation terms.
YouTube TV subscribers affected by the blackout have several alternative options for accessing Disney content, including Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, and traditional cable providers. YouTube TV has committed to providing a $20 credit to subscribers if the blackout extends for a prolonged period.
The situation was covered across multiple platforms, with both YouTube TV and The Walt Disney Company issuing public statements. According to ESPN’s press room, limited programming like College GameDay was made available through the ESPN App without authentication. Both parties indicated continued negotiations toward reaching a resolution.
