Copyright Newsweek
One of the biggest ongoing disputes in the public eye right now is the one between ESPN and YouTube TV — or more broadly, Disney and Google. While the two sides continue working toward a resolution, the stalemate has led to all ESPN networks — including ABC — being removed from YouTube TV. That means more than 10 million subscribers currently have no access to top-tier sports coverage, from NFL and college football to NBA and college basketball. The dispute has now stretched beyond a week, and according to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, the two sides remain “far apart” in negotiations. As a result, heading into another packed Saturday, YouTube TV subscribers will likely once again miss out on all ESPN- and ABC-aired college football games. This also means no access to "College GameDay," one of the most popular pregame shows in all of sports. However, analyst and "Pat McAfee Show" host Pat McAfee announced a major solution for fans hoping to tune in — and it’s a simple one. Anyone with an X (formerly Twitter) account will be able to stream the entire show live for the second straight week directly on McAfee’s page. “Breaking news — GameDay will be available on X, on our account, in its entirety,” McAfee said. “So if you’re caught in the middle of this dispute between ESPN and YouTube TV, and you have an X account, GameDay will be live there again this week.” More NCAA: CFP Selection Committee Expected to Take Critical Stance on Texas More NCAA: Ryan Clark Predicts Conference-Altering SEC Upset in Week 11 Pat McAfee added that this could become a more common trend for X in the future, though the inability to access live sports on the platform will likely continue for the time being. “Obviously, they can’t air games on X because of rights and contracts, but the studio show is different. So another week of GameDay being live on X — for free — and I’m thankful we can help get one of the greatest shows in television history to the fans. It’s a pretty big deal what’s happening tomorrow.” McAfee has become one of the most prominent faces in sports media in just a few years. His show has gained traction not only on ESPN but also on YouTube for several years prior. Since the dispute between ESPN and YouTube TV began, he has been airing each episode on X and has been vocal in his support of the fans, who have been the ones most affected by the ongoing negotiations. His efforts have received widespread praise from sports fans.
