Disney publicly asked YouTube TV Monday to temporarily restore its eight owned-and-operated ABC stations for just 24 hours so the service’s 10+ million subscribers could watch ABC News’ Election Night coverage on November 4.
Disney framed the request as a “public-interest” gesture amid an off-year election with hotly contested races (NYC mayor, Virginia & New Jersey governors, California Prop 50 on redistricting).Y
ouTube TV rejected the one-day ABC comeback, calling it confusing for customers who would “briefly see ABC… only to lose it again shortly after.” Instead, Google countered with a bolder proposal:
“To truly achieve what is best for our mutual customers, we propose immediately restoring the Disney channels that our customers watch: ABC and the ESPN networks, while we continue to negotiate. Those are the channels that people want. If you agree… we can get these channels live in hours.”
YouTube TV email to Disney leadership (publicly posted on the official YouTube Blog) YouTube also noted: Election news is “very widely available” on other channels (CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, etc.) and free on the main YouTube platform.
On the last two U.S. election nights, the vast majority of YouTube TV viewers did not tune to ABC.
As of Monday, no deal has been announced, so all 20+ Disney channels remain dark on YouTube TV.
Why the Blackout Started
Disney and Google failed to renew their carriage contract by the October 30 midnight deadline. Core fight: Disney wants higher per-subscriber fees to reflect ESPN’s live-sports value.
YouTube TV says Disney’s demands are “unnecessarily aggressive” and would force price hikes or fewer choices. This is YouTube TV’s fifth major blackout in 2025 (FOX, NBCU, Paramount, Univision, now Disney).
Channels Still Missing
- Sports: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN Deportes
- Broadcast: 8 ABC O&Os (NY, LA, Chicago, etc.)
- Entertainment: FX, FXX, FXM, Freeform, Disney Channel/Junior/XD, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, ABC News Live, Localish
What Subscribers Missed (So Far)
- Week 10 college football (Texas-Vanderbilt on ABC, dozens of ESPN games)
- “College GameDay” (streamed free on X and ESPN app)
- Monday Night Football (Nov 3: Cowboys vs. Cardinals, simulcast ABC/ESPN)
- Election Night on ABC