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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Disney channels, including ABC and ESPN stations, went dark for YouTube TV subscribers early Friday morning because of an ongoing contract dispute. That means WEWS Channel 5, the Cleveland-based ABC affiliate, was no longer available to subscribers. “Each time we renew our contracts with these partners, we advocate for fair pricing and greater flexibility to offer our subscribers the best possible live TV experience,” reads an email sent to YouTube TV subscribers late Thursday. “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.” The email says YouTube TV still is working on reaching a new agreement with Disney. It says if the channels are unavailable for “an extended period of time,” subscribers will be offered a $20 credit. Disney says YouTube TV is refusing to pay market rates agreed to by other services, such as Hulu + Live TV and Fubo, Variety reports. “Unfortunately, Google’s YouTube TV has chosen to deny their subscribers the content they value most by refusing to pay fair rates for our channels, including ESPN and ABC,” a Disney spokesperson tells Variety. The blackout comes at a tough time for sports fans. ESPN and ABC carry a large amount of college football games, as well as NFL and NBA games. According to Variety, the full list of channels being pulled is ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, Freeform, FX, FXX, FXM, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, SEC Network, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, ABC News Live, ACC Network, Localish; on the Spanish plan, ESPN Deportes, Baby TV Español and Nat Geo Mundo.
