Table of Contents
Is the Disappointing YouTube TV Dispute a Sign I Should Cancel My Subscription?
You may have noticed that many channels, including ESPN and your local ABC station, are suddenly gone from your YouTube TV service. This happened because the contract between YouTube’s owner, Google, and Disney has ended. The two companies could not agree on a new price. Now, your subscription is affected.
What Each Company is Saying
Both companies are blaming each other for the problem. It is important to understand both sides of the story.
YouTube TV’s View
YouTube says it did not want your monthly bill to go up. They claim Disney demanded a much higher price for its channels. When YouTube refused to accept the high price, they say Disney pulled its channels as a threat.
Disney’s View
Disney says YouTube is not willing to pay a fair market price. They feel Google is using its powerful position to try and pay less than what other companies pay for the same channels, like ESPN and FX.
How This Affects You Directly
The biggest impact is on your viewing options, especially for live sports. Because of this disagreement, millions of subscribers have lost access to popular programming.
This includes:
- Live NFL games on ESPN
- NBA basketball games
- College Football matchups
- Other channels like Freeform, FX, and National Geographic
YouTube has stated that this is a disappointing situation for its customers. They have offered a temporary $20 credit if the channels do not return soon. This is meant to make up for the lost content. Meanwhile, your monthly bill of $82.99 is for a service that now has fewer channels than it did before. This price might seem high when you consider that other streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max have also recently increased their prices.
Ultimately, you, the subscriber, are caught in the middle of this corporate dispute. It is likely the two companies will eventually reach a new agreement, but it is uncertain if that will result in higher costs for you in the long run.