The carriage dispute between Disney and YouTube TV is nearing the one-week mark, leaving subscribers unable to watch channels like ESPN as the two media giants struggle to agree on network valuation.
YouTube TV subscribers waiting to watch ESPN might not want to hold their breath. The blackout involves Disney accusing Google-owned YouTube TV of undervaluing its channels, while YouTube TV blames Disney for demanding rates that would necessitate further price increases for consumers.
While carriage disputes often resolve quickly due to the high cost and customer frustration they cause, history shows they can occasionally drag on for weeks or even years. This current weeklong blackout pales in comparison to the longest modern TV blackout, which involved HBO and Dish and lasted nearly three years (November 2018 to July 2021).
Alan Wolk, cofounder of media research firm TVREV, suggests the standoff could last weeks, noting:
If it’s a month long, certainly, that’s a bigger deal.
This is the third consecutive year that Disney networks have faced an extended blackout on a major provider. Previous lengthy standoffs include an 11-day dispute with Charter in 2023 and a 13-day standoff with DirecTV in 2024. Disney also had a multi-day blackout with Dish Network in 2022.
YouTube TV has also recently engaged in tough negotiations with Fox and NBCUniversal. However, unlike with Disney, YouTube TV secured short-term deal extensions that prevented blackouts during those talks. This current dispute marks only the second time since YouTube TV’s 2017 launch that it has lost a major media company’s channels. Their prior stalemate in December 2021 lasted less than three days—half the duration of the current squabble.
Notably, Google’s live TV service has previously gone years without carrying certain specialty channels (like the MLB Network) or specific regional sports networks (like YES and SNY in New York or Monumental Sports Network in Washington, DC).
While industry analysts generally expect a swift resolution, both Disney and YouTube TV possess significant leverage in the current standoff.
Disney controls rival pay-TV services, including Hulu + Live TV and Fubo, which have reportedly seen increased demand since the blackout began. Furthermore, Disney allows sports fans to subscribe directly to the ESPN app, bypassing services like YouTube TV entirely.
Although YouTube TV risks losing customers, it is backed by the massive tech giant Google (Alphabet), whose core business will not be materially affected by the outcome. Analyst Ric Prentiss of Raymond James stated that the showdown is “indicative of YouTube TV wielding increased bargaining power.” Alphabet, valued at $3.4 trillion, is roughly 17 times the size of Disney.
The blackout has infuriated sports fans, who are missing key events like college football games, “Monday Night Football,” and NBA matchups involving teams such as the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers. If the dispute is not settled before the next slate of college football games begins this weekend, customer frustration is expected to provoke a fresh round of anger.
