Disney and YouTube TV have reached a new licensing agreement, restoring Disney's full suite of networks, including ABC and ESPN, to the streaming platform after a blackout lasting over two weeks. The deal, confirmed by both companies on Friday, means that channels like NatGeo, FX, Freeform, SEC Network, and ACC Network are also back for YouTube TV subscribers.
The dispute began on October 30th when the previous licensing agreement expired without a new deal in place, leading to the removal of Disney content. YouTube TV cited Disney's demands for costly terms that would inevitably raise prices for subscribers and reduce their choices.
Disney, in turn, accused YouTube TV of refusing to pay fair rates and leveraging its market dominance. The blackout significantly impacted viewers, particularly sports fans who missed live college football and professional games, as well as news and entertainment programming.
YouTube TV had previously offered subscribers a $20 credit due to the disruption. This is not the first time the two companies have faced carriage disputes; a similar, though shorter, blackout occurred in 2021.
The resolution of this latest dispute comes as live content licensing battles become more common in the increasingly competitive streaming landscape.
