A little over two weeks ago, YouTube TV customers began receiving a notification that all Disney/ABC/ESPN channels would be unavailable due to the expiration of the two parties’ media deal without a new agreement in place. The streaming service’s 10MM subscribers will begin to see access to those channels restored as the tech giants have agreed to a new multi-year deal, per Andrew Marchand of The Athletic.
The 15-day hiatus resulted in millions of customers losing access to Monday Night Football games broadcast on ESPN and ABC, as well as several ESPN-affiliated channels that make up a large block of college football viewing on Saturdays. Over two weekends, the lack of a deal also kept popular Saturday morning College Gameday programming off of smart TVs across the country, as well.
With Disney’s quarterly earnings call taking place yesterday, progress was improving throughout the week. Negotiations became much more serious than initially suspected, and as a result, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Disney CEO Bob Iger both became more involved in negotiations in recent days.
The new deal will return access to all of the missing channels, and now YouTube TV subscribers will have access to ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer app. Reports of the new deal failed to report any change in price for the service, but YouTube TV customers were offered a $20-credit for the absence of the channels last weekend.
The two-week game of media chicken finally comes to an end in time for Week 12 of the college football season. Monday Night Football will also return to the streaming service as the Cowboys head to Las Vegas to close out Week 11 of the NFL’s regular season.
F Disney
F ESPN
F ABC
F Youtube
F NFL
See you all on sunday
This is the best take I’ve seen lol
I live in Jacksonville. My friends are going to the game against LA Sunday. The prices of nose bleed tickets, alone, were $70. That’s a bar tab right there, let alone parking, food, & drink costs.
F the franchises as well.
And what’s crazy, is that’s one of the cheaper tickets in football. Costs are unreal you’re so right
Awesome news
EF Disney
EF ESPN
EF ABC
EF Youtube
EF NFL
Sorry for the “double post” I thought my original post was “moderated” so i made an AI proof edit.
F AI proof edits and auto correct.
People still watch TV, must like all the commercials.
DVDs for entertainment and highlights from team websites, if I care, that’ll satisfy my eyes.
No more merchandise supporting any brands as it’s free advertising. If possible I’d remove all ‘branding’ from all my vehicles – though taking ‘green’ from my tractor doesn’t make sense!
Sports is the only thing to watch on tv and live. I have never had interest in watching a replay of game once it is done. Everything has commercials unless you pirate the entertainment.
Replay off team website has a pitch at the beginning then just 10-14 minutes of game things
Don’t watch football live. Can’t stand the commentators, commercials, and being told what I already know. Record games on Saturday and watch them after. Same with Sunday. I can do what I want and watch em at my leisure. Never been better.
Or just mute the game and watch live