The distribution deal between Disney and YouTube TV expires on Oct. 30, and ESPN and other channels could leave the streaming service if a new deal isn’t reached.
Disney started running warning messages for consumers on YouTube TV on Thursday, explaining what content would leave YouTube TV if a new agreement is not reached, according to CNBC.
The main sticking point between the two parties is the rates the Google-owned streaming service pays to host Disney-owned channels like ESPN and ABC.
A YouTube TV spokesperson said that “Disney is proposing costly economic terms that would raise prices on YouTube TV customers and give our customers fewer choices, while benefiting Disney’s own live TV products — like Hulu + Live TV and, soon, Fubo,” according to CNBC.
In addition to its stakes in YouTube TV competitors Hulu + Live TV and Fubo, there is also a new ESPN app. The ESPN “Unlimited” tier offers subscribers content currently unavailable to YouTube TV customers, according to Awful Announcing.
In a statement to CNBC, a Disney spokesperson emphasized the company’s live sports rights and said that YouTube TV customers would lose “ESPN and ABC, and all our marquee programming — including the NFL, college football, NBA and NHL seasons” if a new deal is not inked.
If Disney and YouTube TV stay at an impasse for an extended period, the streaming platform said it will give subscribers a $20 credit.
The streaming service’s showdown with Disney is the latest in a string of standoffs. Over the course of this year, YouTube TV first negotiated short-term extensions and then new long-term deals to keep NBC Universal, Fox and Paramount channels on its platform.
A Disney spokesperson said in a statement to Deadline that “for the fourth time in three months, Google’s YouTube TV is putting their subscribers at risk of losing the most valuable networks they signed up for. This is the latest example of Google exploiting its position at the expense of their own customers.”
Although YouTube TV reached deals with NBC Universal, Fox and Paramount, content owned by Spanish-language TelevisaUnivision was taken down after the end of last month when the company and YouTube TV failed to reach a new deal.
President Trump has called for YouTube TV to reach a new deal with TelevisaUnivision.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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