Walt Disney and Google's YouTube platform have reached an agreement that returns Disney-owned networks to the YouTube TV service after a fee dispute deprived millions of subscribers of access to programs about American elections and live broadcasts of major sporting events. The two companies announced this in separate statements the day before yesterday. It was decided that the full suite of Disney channels, such as ABC, ESPN, FX, and National Geographic, will return to YouTube TV on the same day. YouTube clarified that ESPN's sports content, including content from the ESPN+ package, will be available to basic plan subscribers at no additional cost by the end of 2026. The dispute centered on transmission fees—fees paid by distributors like YouTube TV per subscriber for carrying the networks—and led to the blackout of Disney channels on October 30th on one of the largest paid television streaming services in the United States. CNBC reported last week that Disney was seeking prices similar to those paid by major distributors, including around $10 per subscriber per month for ESPN content. The rapid growth of the YouTube TV service, combined with Google's vast financial resources, gives it greater negotiating leverage with media companies and allows it to operate under less short-term financial pressure compared to traditional pay-TV providers.
