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Dangerous information for YouTube TV subscribers: You’re shedding a big chunk of video programming from ABC and ESPN as a result of Google and Disney struggling to achieve a licensing deal.
On Thursday evening, YouTube TV’s father or mother Google introduced it was shedding entry to Disney content material, together with the Disney Channel, FX and Nat Geo, following a breakdown in negotiations to resume the content material licensing.

(Credit score: Google)
Google is putting the blame on the Mickey Mouse firm. “Sadly, Disney is proposing expensive financial phrases that might increase costs on YouTube TV prospects and provides our prospects fewer decisions, whereas benefiting Disney’s personal dwell TV merchandise—like Hulu + Reside TV and, quickly, Fubo,” the corporate wrote in a weblog publish.
(To settle a Fubo lawsuit over the now-defunct Venu sports-streaming service, Disney simply closed a $220 million deal underneath which it can personal 70% of Fubo and Fubo will launch a brand new service that includes Disney’s sports activities networks.)
Google additionally claims Disney raised the “blackout risk” final week as a negotiating tactic earlier than following via on Thursday. However Disney tells the Related Press that Google refuses to pay a good price for precious content material
“With a $3 trillion market cap, Google is utilizing its market dominance to remove competitors and undercut the industry-standard phrases we’ve efficiently negotiated with each different distributor,” the corporate reportedly stated.
Disney has additionally been lobbying customers to complain to YouTube TV. Even ESPN host Scott Van Pelt tweeted a hyperlink to a devoted internet web page that provides varied methods prospects can attain the Google-owned service. In the meantime, YouTube TV says it’s nonetheless dedicated to working with Disney on reaching a licensing settlement.
YouTube TV is already pretty dear at $82.99 per thirty days for the bottom plan, which elevated from $72.99 per thirty days practically a yr in the past. If Disney “content material is unavailable for an prolonged time period, we’ll provide our subscribers a $20 credit score,” Google says.
Google’s assist web page additionally notes: “Recordings of Disney content material (on YouTube TV accounts) shall be eliminated. If we’re in a position to attain an settlement with Disney and convey their content material again to YouTube TV, subscribers will regain entry to recordings that had been beforehand of their library.”
We simply went via this in August with YouTube TV and Fox; the 2 reached a deal earlier than channels had been dropped.
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About Our Professional
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
Expertise
I have been a journalist for over 15 years. I obtained my begin as a colleges and cities reporter in Kansas Metropolis and joined PCMag in 2017, the place I cowl satellite tv for pc web providers, cybersecurity, PC {hardware}, and extra. I am presently based mostly in San Francisco, however beforehand spent over 5 years in China, overlaying the nation’s expertise sector.
Since 2020, I’ve lined the launch and explosive progress of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite tv for pc web service, writing 600+ tales on availability and have launches, but additionally the regulatory battles over the growth of satellite tv for pc constellations, fights with rival suppliers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the hassle to broaden into satellite-based cellular service. I’ve combed via FCC filings for the newest information and pushed to distant corners of California to check Starlink’s mobile service.
I additionally cowl cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this yr, the FTC pressured Avast to pay customers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and promoting their private data to third-party purchasers, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I additionally cowl the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in entrance of a Greatest Purchase to get an RTX 3000. I am now following how President Trump’s tariffs will have an effect on the {industry}. I am at all times wanting to be taught extra, so please soar within the feedback with suggestions and ship me ideas.
