YouTube TV on Monday proposed restoring ABC and ESPN to its lineup following a standoff with Disney, which requested the return of ABC for crucial Election Day coverage. The streaming service emphasized that it is ready to reach a fair agreement that aligns with Disney’s deals with other distributors, urging the media conglomerate to negotiate in the interest of their shared audience.
The dispute centers on carriage fees, the per-subscriber payments distributors make to carry broadcast and cable networks. YouTube TV contends that Disney is demanding higher rates than those paid by Charter and DirecTV for ABC, insisting that the platform is not seeking preferential treatment beyond market norms. Disney, however, maintains that YouTube TV has pursued below-market terms and has made minimal concessions, according to a memo from Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, along with ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro.
Disney claims it initially offered YouTube TV a licensing deal that would have cost less than the terms of their recently expired agreement, noting that the proposal was consistent with contracts reached with other distributors since last summer. Despite these offers, talks broke down, and Disney’s channels went dark on YouTube TV late last Thursday, leaving millions of viewers without access to ABC and ESPN content.
YouTube TV, one of the largest pay-TV services in the United States, has faced increasing tension this year with media companies threatening to remove their channels from the platform. As Election Day approaches, the impasse has added pressure on both sides to reach a resolution that satisfies consumers and secures access to key programming.
