YouTube TV dropped all Disney-owned channels—including ESPN, ABC, FX, and Freeform—on Oct. 30, 2025, after Google and Disney failed to renew their carriage deal, blacking out live sports and election coverage for 10+ million subscribers.
The standoff, now in Day 6, has already cost fans an entire weekend of college football (Texas-Vanderbilt, Florida-Georgia, Tennessee-Oklahoma), Monday Night Football, the first College Football Playoff rankings reveal, and ABC’s Election Night broadcasts.
Disney demands “fair market rates” for ESPN—roughly $2–3 more per subscriber per month—while YouTube TV calls the hike “excessive” and accuses Disney of favoring its own Hulu + Live TV bundle. YouTube TV promises a one-time $20 credit only if the blackout drags on “an extended period” (undefined).
This is the new normal as tech giants muscle into sports rights. Google (via YouTube TV) and Amazon (Thursday Night Football) now rivalily outbid legacy media, inflating rights fees 200%+ (NBA’s new $76B deal).
Broadcasters pass costs to distributors, who pass them to you—YouTube TV’s base price has doubled since 2018 to $82.99.
Work-arounds while it lasts
- Stream ESPN/ABC games free on the ESPN app (login required) or ESPN.com
- Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream all carry Disney channels
- Bar, antenna, or a friend’s login
Bottom line: two California titans are fighting over your wallet while you miss the games you already paid for. Past blackouts (DirecTV 2024: 11 days) ended quietly; expect this one before bowl season—but no guarantees.