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Was the Terrible YouTube TV Blackout a Simple Contract Issue or a Costly Battle for Your Wallet?
Good news for viewers: Disney’s channels have returned to YouTube TV. A dispute between the two companies caused a blackout that lasted for more than two weeks, but a new deal is now in place. For a while, subscribers could not watch popular channels because the old contract between YouTube TV and Disney had expired.
Why the Channels Disappeared
The core of the problem was money and fairness. YouTube TV, which is owned by Google, said that Disney wanted a deal that would force a price increase for all subscribers. YouTube TV’s monthly cost is currently $82. They felt Disney was trying to use its popular channels to get more money from viewers.
On the other side, Disney stated that YouTube TV was the one being unreasonable. Disney said it offered YouTube TV the same kind of deal that hundreds of other providers have already accepted. They believed YouTube TV was trying to use its large size to get special treatment and a better price than anyone else. This back-and-forth disagreement became very public, with both companies blaming each other.
What This Meant for You
During the blackout, subscribers lost access to many popular channels. This meant millions of people missed out on big sporting events and their favorite shows. The channels that went dark included:
- ESPN and its related sports networks
- Local ABC stations
- FX and FXX
- The Disney Channel and Disney Junior
- National Geographic
To make up for the trouble, YouTube TV gave all subscribers a one-time $20 credit on their bill.
How It Was Fixed
After weeks of public disagreement, the two companies finally reached a new multi-year agreement. Shortly after, all the missing channels were restored. Both YouTube TV and Disney have apologized to their customers for the service disruption. Your YouTube TV subscription now includes all the Disney-owned channels again, and the monthly price remains the same.