Copyright Men's Journal
Millions of sports fans hoping to watch Monday Night Football, NBA, and college football games have been out of luck due to the continuing YouTube TV blackout. That has led to a flurry of back-and-forth claims, some made by analysts, as Disney and ESPN have become the key receptacles for sports fans’ anger. Fans found that all Disney channels like ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network and ESPNU, were no longer accessible through YouTube TV. Angry fans have vented on social media, with some taking aim at Disney CEO Bob Iger, and his appearance on Manningcast. He wasn’t asked about the dispute, which upset some sports fans. Now Drew Lerner, an analyst with Awful Announcing, has obtained a new claim from YouTube TV that sheds light on the sticking point in the dispute between Disney and YouTube TV. YouTube TV Says the ‘Price of ABC’ Is the Problem, Not ESPN, the Report Says YouTube TV told Lerner that the price of ESPN isn’t the problem. The contract impasse was instead spurred by “the price of ABC,” he wrote. According to Lerner, writing on November 12, a spokesperson for YouTube TV clarified that YouTube TV “is not asking for the lower rates immediately, but wants to codify lower rates once it surpasses the three other distributors in subscribers.” In the interim, he reported, “the Google-owned service suggests it’d pay the same rates as other distributors.” That claim came after a report from another journalist who alleged that YouTube TV was “demanding lower prices than every other major distributor for access to Disney’s suite of television networks,” Lerner wrote. That article, on Puck News by John Ourand, says, in part, “As the YouTube TV–ESPN standoff stretches into another week, it’s increasingly clear that the old rule of carriage dispute leverage is shifting. The question is no longer how long YouTube TV can hold out, but how long Disney can sit on its hands.” “As of October 30, 2025, our agreement with Disney has expired, and their content is not currently available on YouTube TV,” YouTube TV wrote in a note to subscribers. “Each time we renew our contracts with network partners, we advocate for fair pricing and greater flexibility to offer our subscribers the best possible live TV experience. Our current agreement with Disney has approached its renewal date, and we will not agree to terms that disadvantage our members while benefiting Disney’s own live TV products.” Some people took YouTube TV’s side on social media due to the new report. “I mean, sounds like YouTube TV is trying to bring prices down for everyone so I can’t complain,” wrote one sports fan on X. YouTube TV noted, “It’s our goal to restore Disney content to YouTube TV, but if we can’t reach an agreement and their content is unavailable for an extended period of time, we’ll offer our subscribers a $20 credit. If this happens, you’ll receive an email with more information.”
