Disney's channels — including ESPN, ABC, and the Disney Channel — could be removed from YouTube TV this week if the two companies fail to agree on a new carriage deal before Thursday's deadline.
The potential blackout would affect millions of subscribers and marks the latest standoff in a string of disputes between Google's streaming platform and major media networks.
The current agreement between Disney and YouTube TV expires at 11:59 pm ET on Thursday, and unless a deal is reached, all Disney-operated networks will go dark.
This includes ABC, ESPN, FX, Freeform, National Geographic, and Disney Junior, along with local ABC stations.
In a statement, YouTube TV accused Disney of "proposing costly economic terms" that would raise prices for customers and "limit viewer choices while benefiting Disney's own live TV products such as Hulu + Live TV."
According to LifeHacker, YouTube added that if the dispute drags on, subscribers will receive a $20 credit for the interruption.
Disney, however, pushed back, saying that Google is "exploiting its position at the expense of their own customers."
The company argues that YouTube TV risks depriving viewers of major sports and entertainment programming by refusing to pay fair rates for Disney's content.
Disney Content Could Be Pulled From YouTube TV This Week: Here’s What To Knowhttps://t.co/lN6wr7kZEL pic.twitter.com/9ztQdeLLps
— Forbes (@Forbes) October 27, 2025
Disney Viewership Up 15% Amid YouTube TV Dispute
If the channels are dropped, subscribers could lose access to NFL, NBA, college football, and NHL games, along with popular entertainment and news programming.
Disney said that viewership of its networks among YouTube TV households has grown 15% year-over-year, showing continued demand for its content, Forbes reported.
The dispute highlights ongoing tension between streaming providers and traditional media companies as both sides struggle to balance profits, subscriber growth, and the rising costs of licensing content.
YouTube TV, which has about 10 million users and costs $82.99 per month, has faced at least five carriage disputes this year with companies including Paramount, NBCUniversal, Fox, and TelevisaUnivision. Most of those deals were resolved just before channels were set to go dark.
This isn't the first time Disney and YouTube have clashed. In 2021, a similar standoff briefly resulted in Disney's channels being removed before a last-minute agreement restored them.
Analysts say both companies are likely under pressure to reach a compromise.
Losing Disney content would deal a blow to YouTube TV's sports lineup, while Disney risks losing millions of viewers to rival platforms if talks fail.
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