What’s Happened? Following the removal of Disney’s entire channel lineup from YouTube TV, the former has reached out with a temporary solution: restoring one of the many channels currently blacked out.
- On Monday, Disney asked YouTube TV to restore the ABC stations for Election Day coverage.
- In response, YouTube TV proposed restoring ABC along with the ESPN networks, saying those are “the channels that people want.”
- Since no further information has been shared and none of the networks are currently available on YouTube TV, it appears the companies have not yet reached an agreement.
Why is this important? This development comes just days after one of the most extensive blackouts on YouTube TV this year. Disney pulled all of its popular networks and programming, including National Geographic, Disney Channel, ESPN, and ABC.
- In its response, YouTube TV noted that restoring ABC stations “only for a day” would cause customer confusion, as viewers might briefly see ABC available before losing access again shortly after.
- YouTube TV added that the vast majority of its subscribers “chose not to watch ABC,” and that those who want to livestream ABC News can already do so on the network’s official YouTube channel.
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Why should I care? At the time of the blackout, YouTube announced a $20 credit for subscribers.
- However, only some customers are receiving a $10 monthly credit for six months to compensate for the loss of Disney channels.
- While the two companies remain at an impasse, there have been no major updates for viewers.
- The positive news is that both sides remain in contact and are working to restore services, even though their efforts have yet to produce results.
