YouTube TV subscribers have once again missed out on Monday Night Football, as the popular streaming service continues to be without Disney-owned channels like ABC, ESPN, the ACC Network, and the SEC Networks. These channels were removed from YouTube TV’s lineup on October 31 and have yet to return, leaving millions of viewers frustrated and uncertain about when they might regain access to their favorite sports and entertainment content.
The root cause of this ongoing outage is a financial dispute between YouTube TV, which is owned by Google, and Disney, one of the largest content providers in the world. At the heart of the disagreement is the so-called “carriage fee”—the amount YouTube TV pays Disney to carry and broadcast its channels. Disney claims that YouTube TV has not offered a sufficient fee, while YouTube TV is pushing back in negotiations to secure more favorable terms. Such disputes are not new; Disney has had similar standoffs with other broadcasters and streaming platforms in recent years. Notably, in 2021, a similar conflict caused a brief outage on YouTube TV that was resolved within two days.
YouTube TV remains the largest internet TV provider in the United States, boasting over nine million subscribers. Disney’s own streaming service, Hulu + Live TV, ranks second with 4.3 million subscribers. The stakes are high for both companies, as these fees and contracts directly impact the availability of popular channels and the satisfaction of millions of sports fans and general viewers.
To address subscriber dissatisfaction, YouTube TV promised to provide a $20 credit to customers if the Disney channels remained unavailable for an extended period. On Sunday, the streaming service detailed how subscribers can claim this credit. Some users will receive the $20 billing credit automatically, especially those who pay through Google Play billing or their mobile service provider. Others will need to actively claim the credit after receiving an email from YouTube TV. These emails began going out Sunday night, and many users have already reported receiving the credit, with all credits expected to be issued by November 12. The credit will appear on the subscriber’s next billing cycle.
When asked about the possibility of additional credits if the dispute drags on, a YouTube TV spokesperson stated that the situation is still evolving. The company’s main priority remains reaching an agreement that restores Disney content to the platform, and they will inform subscribers of any further compensation if necessary.
The loss of Disney-owned channels affects more than just sports fans. Viewers who rely on ABC, ESPN, and Disney’s other networks for a wide range of programming have been left without access since October 31. The exact channels removed include ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, the ACC Network, SEC Network, and several others under Disney’s ownership.
Negotiations between YouTube TV and Disney have been conducted behind closed doors, as is typical in such contract disputes. Historically, similar conflicts involving Disney and other providers like Sling TV in 2022, Spectrum/Charter in 2023, and DirecTV in 2024 have been resolved within one to two weeks. However, YouTube TV’s position as the largest internet TV provider gives Google significantly more leverage in the talks, potentially prolonging the impasse.
Should a deal be reached, industry sources suggest that the missing channels could return within hours. On October 30, YouTube TV posted on its social media account X (formerly Twitter) that it advocates for fair pricing to provide subscribers with the best TV experience when renewing contracts with network partners.
Disney responded publicly through a statement to CNBC, accusing YouTube TV of refusing to pay fair rates for its channels, including ESPN and ABC. In an internal memo to employees dated October 31, which CNBC also reported on, Disney’s top executives expressed frustration with YouTube TV’s tactics. They accused Google and YouTube TV of deleting previously recorded shows and events from subscribers’ libraries, and suggested that YouTube TV is not interested in reaching a fair deal. Instead, they claimed, YouTube TV aims to use its market power to eliminate competition and devalue Disney’s content, which has been instrumental in building the streaming service’s audience.
In an effort to rally support and put pressure on YouTube TV, Disney has invited viewers to urge the streaming service to restore its channels by visiting keepmynetworks.com, a website dedicated to this campaign.
For viewers who want to continue watching live sports like Monday Night Football or college football games on ABC, there are still a few options available.