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YouTube TV and ESPN both refuse to budge as the ongoing dispute and channel blackout approaches two full weeks, but customers can alleviate some frustration with alternative streaming services that even include the premium ESPN Unlimited streaming service for free. ESPN Unlimited, formerly ESPN+, is included with fuboTV (free trial) and DirecTV (free trial), both of which offer free trials during which new subscribers can access ESPN Unlimited content. The latest YouTube TV news is that Disney is losing an estimated $4.3 million daily, according to Variety, while YouTube is offering customers a $20 credit to compensate for the channel blackout. Where to get ESPN Unlimited for free? The only place to get ESPN Unlimited for free today is by signing up for a free trial of either fuboTV or DirecTV, each of which include ESPN Unlimited in their content package at no additional charge. ESPN Unlimited is also included with Hulu + Live TV and select Disney streaming bundles, as well as Verizon and Spectrum cable packages, but none of them include free trials. What’s the difference between the streaming services? BEST BET: fuboTV (free trial) fuboTV is a comprehensive live TV streaming service that offers more than 230 channels including ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network, ACC Network, unlimited Cloud DVR and the ability to watch on up to 10 streams at once. Crucially, it even includes ESPN Unlimited in its base pricing. It has a sports focus, and even has its own exclusive fubo Sports channels that carry exclusive international soccer games and other sports. For a limited time, fuboTV is offering its first month for just $54.99 after your free trial. After that, the price is $84.99 per month. BEST PROMO: DirecTV (free trial) DirecTV is comparable to fuboTV, from a sports fans perspective, but fans will need to subscribe to the second tier “Choice” package to get access to SEC Network, ACC Network and other specialized sports networks. It also includes ESPN Unlimited, and offers $40 off your first month of subscription, plus $10 off the next two months, for greater savings across your first three months than what fuboTV offers. However, it offers comparatively fewer channels, at just 95, forcing users to subscribe to higher, pricier packages to enjoy a wider selection of channels. Does ESPN Unlimited have a free trial? No. Sports fans have the option of paying directly for an a-la-carte ESPN Unlimited subscription, which is packed with value for $29.99 per month. But they must pay from the start, with no free trial available. However, ESPN Unlimited is running an impressive deal right now, where fans can get a bundle that includes ESPN Unlimited, Hulu and Disney+ for a year at $29.99 per month. That means Hulu and Disney+ completely free when you sign up for ESPN Unlimited today. What does ESPN Unlimited include? ESPN Unlimited, formerly ESPN+, is a rebranded and repackaged over-the-top streaming service from ESPN that brings you even more of the live sports you love. The biggest upgrade from the old ESPN+ model? ESPN Unlimited includes all ESPN networks and services, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACCN, and even streaming-exclusive networks and games ESPN+, ESPN on ABC, SECN+, ACCNX, ESPN3. It also includes direct feeds for live games that air on all of those networks, including ABC. On top of that, it also includes the new WWE Premium Live Events including Wrestlepalooza, Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania and more. ESPN channels are home to hundreds of college football and basketball games, Monday Night Football, UFC and the majority of NHL games, plus exclusive sports commentary, analysis and documentary programming, like “30 for 30.” Why did YouTube TV drop ESPN? Disney’s contract with YouTube TV expired Thursday, October 30, at midnight, and negotiations to renew the contract have not been going well between Disney and Google, the company that owns YouTube TV. Since an agreement could not be reached, all Disney-owned channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ACC Network, SEC Network, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, FX and some local ABC affiliates, went dark on YouTube TV beginning Friday, October 31. Disney was involved in a similar dispute with Spectrum in 2023, and again with DirecTV in 2024 in the midst of the college football and NFL seasons. The blackout impacts customers’ ability to watch everything from college and professional sports to their favorite entertainment programs. According to Golf.com, the core of the dispute is that Google believes ESPN is asking for too much in carriage fees, while Disney claims that YouTube TV is demanding a better rate than any of its competitors, such as DirecTV, Hulu and fuboTV.
