Disney, YouTube TV announce deal that ends 15-day standoff

Disney and YouTube TV on Friday announced they have reached a deal that ends a 15-day standoff related to carrier fees, which will restore access to ESPN, ABC and other channels to the platform’s 10 million subscribers.

The standoff began late last month after the companies failed to reach a deal on pricing when its contract renewal period came up. YouTube previously said it was for “advocating for fair pricing” to offer its customers “the best TV experience.”

The deal includes access to the Unlimited tier of ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming outlet at no extra charge for YouTube TV’s 10 million subscribers, and the “duo bundle” of Disney+ and Hulu will also be made available in “select YouTube offerings,” according to Deadline.

"We’re happy to share that we’ve reached an agreement with Disney that preserves the value of our service for our subscribers and future flexibility in our offers," YouTube TV said in a statement. "Subscribers should see channels including ABC, ESPN and FX returning to their service over the course of the day, as well as any recordings that were previously in their Library. We apologize for the disruption and appreciate our subscribers’ patience as we negotiated on their behalf.”

The move comes after sports fans missed out on two weekends and Monday night football games, which are normally aired on ESPN. But it does come ahead of another busy sports weekend.

"We are pleased that our networks have been restored in time for fans to enjoy the many great programming options this weekend, including college football," Disney said. "This new agreement reflects our continued commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment and evolving with how audiences choose to watch. It recognizes the tremendous value of Disney’s programming and provides YouTube TV subscribers with more flexibility and choice."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.