Disney and YouTube TV Negotiations Stall
It seems a resolution between Disney and YouTube TV might not be imminent after all.
During a recent appearance on CNBC, Disney’s CFO, Hugh Johnston, discussed the ongoing negotiations following the company’s earnings report. He hinted that the impasse could extend longer than sports fans had hoped, potentially leading to three consecutive weekends without coverage on ABC or ESPN.
“We’re in the midst of negotiations right now,” Johnston stated. “Things are active and progressing. We anticipated this challenge when entering the year, and we’ve been preparing for it. As far as they want to proceed, we’re set to go.”
Johnston’s remarks came amid a sharp decline in Disney’s stock, dropping over 9% as the standoff with Google-owned YouTube TV has significantly impacted ABC and ESPN’s viewership ratings.
Reportedly, Disney is suffering losses of around $30 million weekly during the YouTube TV disruption, which began on October 30th.
Earlier this week, reports revealed that while a deal is close, disagreements remain over the costs concerning Disney’s “non-sports networks” like Freeform, FX, and National Geographic.
Alternative Ways to Watch ESPN and ABC
There are various live TV streaming services available that might suit your needs. Some offer appealing deals alongside channels that YouTube TV customers are currently missing out on.
DirecTV is offering a 5-day free trial. Plans start at $49.99 for the first month, providing access to key channels—covering NFL, NBA, NHL, and college football, all under one subscription.
If you’re not quite ready to commit, Sling TV might be a worthwhile option. They provide flexible plans, including day passes. For instance, the Sling Orange Day Pass, priced at $4.99, grants access to everything available on Sling TV Orange for 24 hours, featuring channels like ESPN and ESPN2.
Since the outages commenced, over 10 million YouTube TV subscribers have missed out on two episodes of “Monday Night Football” as well as two significant college football games.
In response to the situation, YouTube TV recently issued a $20 credit to subscribers for the missed content.
On Monday, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr urged both companies to resolve their differences. “Google and Disney really need to find a way to make a deal to end this blackout,” he expressed on social media. “People deserve to watch the programming they pay for, including football. Let’s make it happen!”
