YouTube TV users frustrated by the ongoing absence of Disney-owned channels will receive a $20 credit on their next bill. The streaming service confirmed this gesture to TechCrunch following an initial report from Variety. Subscribers are receiving emails with instructions on how to apply the credit.
The blackout, now spanning over a week, has deprived viewers of popular networks like ESPN, ABC, FX, and National Geographic. The dispute arose on October 31st when YouTube TV severed ties with Disney due to a contract standoff. While both sides remain publicly tight-lipped about specific terms, the crux of the disagreement appears centered around carriage fees – essentially the price YouTube pays to carry Disney’s channels.
YouTube has accused Disney of demanding an unreasonable price increase, characterizing it as “unfair,” while Disney claims YouTube is stubbornly refusing to pay “fair market rates” for its content. Should a resolution be reached, YouTube TV assures users that the affected Disney channels will be swiftly restored within hours.
This ongoing blackout highlights the increasingly contentious landscape of streaming services and content providers. As subscriber numbers swell and competition intensifies, carriage fees are becoming flashpoints in negotiations between platforms like YouTube TV and major networks like those owned by Disney. These disputes ultimately impact consumers who find themselves caught in the middle, losing access to their preferred programming while companies spar over financial terms.
