The full lineup of Disney channels, including ABC, ESPN, FX and National Geographic, will return to YouTube TV starting Friday, the companies said in separate statements.
Additionally, ESPN’s entire sports lineup, including content from ESPN Unlimited, will be available to basic subscribers at no additional cost by the end of 2026, YouTube said.
The dispute, which centered on carriage costs, or the per-subscriber rates that distributors pay to carry broadcast and cable networks, led to Disney’s channel blackouts on October 30 on one of the largest pay-TV services in the US.
Walt Disney did not immediately respond to a question about the financial terms of the deal. YouTube said it did not disclose the terms of the deal.
CNBC reported last week that Disney was seeking rates comparable to major distributors, including about $10 per subscriber per month for ESPN.
YouTube TV’s rapid growth as a pay-TV platform, combined with Google’s vast financial resources, gives the company greater bargaining power with media companies and allows it to operate with less financial pressure in the short term than traditional providers.
The service has been embroiled in negotiations and transportation disputes with major media companies that threatened to pull their networks from the platform.
Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger said Thursday that his company has proposed a deal “equal to or better than what other major distributors have already agreed to,” citing discussions with YouTube TV about the dispute.
The prospect of a protracted battle over distribution of Walt Disney’s television networks had investors worried about the prospects for its already declining TV business.
Walt Disney missed quarterly revenue expectations as weakness in cable TV overshadowed strong growth in the company’s streaming and parks businesses.
MISSING MAJOR EVENTS
Sports programming was among the casualties of the dispute, with YouTube TV users unable to watch the Nov. 3 “Monday Night Football” game between the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys.
Disney asked YouTube TV to reinstate ABC for its coverage of the US Election Day on November 4, citing public interest, but the streaming service rejected the proposal, saying a one-day return would confuse customers.
YouTube said last month that Disney was using the “threat of a blackout” as a negotiating tactic to enforce deal terms that would raise prices for its customers.
Walt Disney said YouTube TV “demanded preferential treatment with lower rates and rejected terms accepted by other partners, including Disney’s own services such as Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.”
Disney networks affected included FX, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Disney Channel and ABC News Live.
YouTube TV had said it would offer its pay-TV subscribers a $20 credit if the Disney networks remained unavailable on the platform for an extended period of time.
After a challenging negotiating period, YouTube TV struck a deal with Comcast-owned NBCUniversal to keep NBC shows like “Sunday Night Football” and “America’s Got Talent” on the platform.
Earlier this year, YouTube TV successfully completed similarly difficult negotiations with Fox and Paramount, securing access to those networks despite initial disputes.
Published on November 15, 2025
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