After a two-week blackout that cut off access to major live sporting events and ABC channels, Google and Disney have reached a new carriage deal that restores more than 20 Disney-owned channels — including ABC and ESPN — to YouTube TV.
The two companies announced the agreement on Friday, ending a standoff that began on October 31 and left subscribers without college football, two Monday Night Football broadcasts, and other high-profile programming.
In a statement, YouTube said it was “happy to share” that a deal had been finalized and that affected channels would return throughout the day.
Good news! The recordings previously saved in subscriber libraries would also be restored.
“We apologize for the disruption and appreciate our subscribers’ patience as we negotiated on their behalf,” the company said, noting that the agreement “preserves the value of our service” while providing “future flexibility” in YouTube TV’s offers.
Disney responded with its own statement from Disney Entertainment co-chairs Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. They emphasized that the new arrangement reflects “how audiences choose to watch entertainment” in the current media landscape.
“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,” they said.
Expanded ESPN Access Coming in 2026
It was reported that Google was more interested in ESPN than other channels, and as part of the new agreement, Disney announced that YouTube TV subscribers will gain access to a selection of live and on-demand programming from ESPN Unlimited — Disney’s upcoming all-inclusive digital offering that combines content from ESPN+ and new ESPN programming. This expanded access will be added to the YouTube TV base plan at no extra cost by the end of 2026.
YouTube said that it retains the option to pursue additional programming packages with Disney and other partners in the future, suggesting that more flexible bundles may be on the way as the streaming landscape continues to evolve.
It seems the current ordeal is over. Now let’s see if Disney’s stock starts to go back up.
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