Disney and YouTube are playing a game of Chicken, and subscribers have to wait and see who gives in first. YouTube could be planning for the long haul, as it now offers subscribers a $20 credit for Disney’s channels being down.
The standoff between Disney and YouTube TV is now entering a second week, as all the major Disney-owned channels — including ESPN, ABC, and FX are unavailable on YouTube TV while the two companies negotiate a carriage deal.
Now, YouTube TV is offering a Credit.
In an email to customers on Sunday, November 9, 2025, YouTube TV announced it would provide a $20 credit to affected subscribers. They called the blackout “disappointing” but assured users the company is still working to restore Disney’s programming.
The email said,
“We’ve been working in good faith to negotiate a deal with Disney that pays them fairly for their content and returns their programming to YouTube TV,” the platform told subscribers in an email on Sunday. “We know it’s been disappointing to lose Disney content, and we want you to know we deeply appreciate your patience. In light of the disruption, we’re offering our subscribers a $20 credit.
We remain committed to working with Disney to bring their content back to YouTube TV.”
How to get the $20 credit,
Subscribers will receive a follow-up email in the coming days with details on how to redeem the credit, which will be applied to their next billing cycle.
What Happened?
The Disney-owned channel blackout began on October 30, after Disney and YouTube TV failed to renew their licensing agreement before the contract’s midnight deadline. The dispute centers on pricing, with both sides accusing the other of being demanding and greedy.
YouTube TV claimed Disney demanded “costly economic terms” that would increase subscriber prices and reduce flexibility. Disney countered that Google (YouTube’s parent company) was “using its market dominance to eliminate competition and undercut industry-standard terms.”
When Disney’s channels went dark, subscribers lost all their saved content.
YouTube TV has a history of conflicts
This marks YouTube TV’s third major carriage conflict in just two months. In August, the platform narrowly avoided blackouts with Fox and NBCUniversal after last-minute deal renewals.
Disney’s networks — particularly ESPN — are among the most expensive in the television market. Analysts suggest YouTube TV may be resisting steep fee increases to avoid raising monthly prices for its 8+ million subscribers.
The dominance of YouTube
According to reports, YouTube has become the top media distributor in the U.S., surpassing both Disney and Netflix in total viewing time. The company’s growing dominance in the streaming market, along with a CEO that seems to be courting Hollywood, has made it a powerful entity for television audiences. Hollywood has been trying to get a foothold on the platform.
For now, YouTube TV customers remain caught in the middle, with no clear resolution in sight. The $20 credit may offer some relief, but until the companies reach a deal, millions will be missing some of their favorite sports and entertainment programming.
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