ESPN, ABC return to YouTube TV
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The contract dispute between Disney and YouTube TV continues into another weekend, as the two sides have not reached an agreement despite rumblings there was momentum toward a deal. Walt Disney Co. executives during a Thursday investor call warned the dispute could drag on, leaving subscribers without access to key channels like ABC, ESPN and FX.
YouTube TV subscribers can rejoice as the dispute that has kept ABC and ESPN Networks off of the streaming platform has now been resolved and here's when those channels should return to the platform.
YouTube TV subscribers still do not have access to ABC, ESPN and other Disney-owned channels, as well as related recorded content on their DVRs from Disney brands. As of Saturday, Disney and Google-owned YouTube TV continue to go back and forth in negotiations for a new carriage agreement after the previous one expired Oct. 30.
ESPN announced a notable decision regarding its college football pregame show after making a deal with YouTube TV.
The standoff in carriage negotiations between YouTube TV and Disney has reached two weeks. At the end of the day on Oct. 30, the previous deal between YouTube TV's parent company, Google, and Disney, which owns ABC and all ESPN-affiliated channels, expired, leaving all of Disney's catalog off the streaming service.
Disney pulled ESPN, ABC, the SEC Network, Disney Channel and 17 other channels from YouTube TV due to failed contract negotiations late last month. No progress had been reported two weeks later, and YouTube TV pledged to offer subscribers the $20 credit if the channels were still unavailable "for an extended period of time."