YouTube TV Drops Disney Channels Over Pricing Dispute Affecting 10M Subscribers

YouTube TV dropped over 20 Disney-owned channels, including ABC and ESPN, on October 31, 2025, after failing to reach a new carriage agreement with Disney over pricing disputes. The blackout affects more than 10 million subscribers and comes at a particularly disruptive time as college football and NFL games are airing, impacting fans' ability to watch key sports events. Disney accused Google of leveraging its market dominance to undercut industry-standard terms, while YouTube TV criticized Disney’s demands as unreasonable and stated it would not agree to terms that disadvantage its subscribers. YouTube TV announced it would offer a $20 credit to subscribers if the blackout continues for an extended period, though negotiations are ongoing. This dispute highlights the growing power streaming services hold in carriage negotiations and the increasing costs passed on to consumers, with YouTube TV’s monthly fee having more than doubled since its 2017 launch. Local ABC affiliates like KATC-TV in Louisiana remain available via antenna or other streaming platforms, though YouTube TV users continue to face service interruptions and loss of DVR recordings from Disney networks.