YouTube TV Disney Blackout Nears Three Weeks

Millions of YouTube TV subscribers have been without access to key Disney-owned channels for nearly three weeks, following the expiration of a carriage agreement on October 30. The blackout affects popular networks including ABC, ESPN, FX, Freeform, National Geographic, and the Disney Channel, depriving viewers of live sports, news, and entertainment programming such as Monday Night Football, Dancing with the Stars, and Grey's Anatomy.

The dispute stems from failed negotiations over carriage fees, the payments YouTube TV, owned by Google, makes to Disney to broadcast its content. Disney has stated that it is seeking fair market value for its networks, while YouTube TV contends that Disney's proposed terms are economically burdensome and would lead to higher subscription prices for consumers while limiting options in the streaming market. Negotiations remain active, with YouTube TV submitting a revised proposal to Disney over the weekend. No resolution timeline has been announced, though industry observers note that Disney's quarterly earnings call on November 13 may provide further insight into the talks.

The outage has had immediate repercussions for viewers and both companies....