Copyright M Live Michigan
Millions of football fans were left in the dark this weekend amid a dispute between Disney and YouTube TV. But despite customers missing out on college football and Monday Night Football, among other sports, the two sides reportedly “remain far apart” when it comes to a deal that will bring ESPN and ABC back to the popular steaming service. According to Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal, money (of course) remains the sticking point in the dispute. According to SBJ, Google, which owns YouTube TV, wants rates like what major cable providers like Charter/Spectrum and Comcast pay for the various Disney-owned channels. Disney has countered by pointing out that YouTube TV doesn’t have the same number of subscribers as those companies. Both sides have been releasing statements blaming the blackout on the other, but fans don’t seem to care. They’ve had enough with both. Another big weekend of games is set for the next football weekend, including LSU vs. Alabama on Saturday and Eagles vs. Packers on Monday Night Football. ESPN is also set to broadcast an early season college basketball clash between Duke and Texas on Tuesday and has an NBA doubleheader on Wednesday. “The sad, simple reality is that the major corporations don’t really care about the consumers,” NBC’s Mike Florio wrote. “They care about maximizing profits. About pumping up the stock price. About winning the periodic showdowns with other major corporations. “We may have to accept it. We don’t have to like it. And we absolutely don’t have to silently take it. If we do, it will morph from the exception into the norm. So, make yourself heard. Blame everyone involved.”
