**YouTube Strikes Back at Disney Amid Ongoing YouTube TV Blackout**
YouTube didn’t hold back in its latest jab at Disney. In a statement published on Monday, YouTube TV took a swipe at ABC News, explaining why it won’t restore the news outlet’s stations on its platform for 24 hours.
The move came after Disney sought to ease weekslong tensions with the Google-owned platform. The two companies have been at an impasse after failing to negotiate a new contract that would allow YouTube TV subscribers to watch Disney’s television channels.
A Disney spokesperson said the company requested YouTube to bring back ABC for Tuesday’s U.S. Election Day. Voters are heading to the polls for key local contests, including the New York City mayor’s election and California’s Proposition 50, which addresses the redrawing of the state’s congressional map.
“We believe in putting the public interest first and hope YouTube TV will take this small step for their customers while we continue to work toward a fair agreement,” Disney said in its statement.
However, YouTube quickly declined the offer. In a Monday blog post, the company explained, “Unfortunately, your proposal would permit us to return Disney’s ABC stations only for a day and will cause customer confusion among those who may briefly see ABC on YouTube TV only to lose it again shortly after.”
YouTube also highlighted that viewers have plenty of alternatives for election news. “There are plenty of other options for customers. Election news information is very widely available across other broadcast stations and news networks on YouTube TV, as well as on the main YouTube service, for free,” the post read. It added, “In fact, on the last two U.S. election days, the vast majority of tuned-in YouTube TV subscribers chose not to watch ABC.”
Since October 30, Disney’s networks, including ABC and ESPN, have been blacked out on YouTube TV as part of this ongoing dispute. Disney claims YouTube TV is unwilling to pay the market rate for its channels. Meanwhile, YouTube TV argues that Disney’s proposal would force it to raise prices, unfairly benefiting Disney-controlled competitors like Fubo and Hulu + Live TV.
YouTube TV has promised to issue a $20 credit to its customers if the blackout continues.
This high-profile carriage fight has had notable consequences. For example, YouTube TV subscribers were unable to watch ESPN’s college football games or the popular pregame show, *College GameDay*, over the weekend through the platform.
A carriage fight refers to a disagreement over the rights to “carry,” or retransmit, a broadcaster’s signal. Disney and ESPN have attempted to rally fans by highlighting outrage against YouTube TV. ESPN enlisted megastars like Stephen A. Smith, Scott Van Pelt, and Mike Greenberg—these personalities posted short clips on social media informing viewers of the dispute and directing them to a Disney-owned website to petition YouTube TV.
As this standoff continues, both sides remain at odds over terms, leaving subscribers caught in the middle as negotiations drag on.
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*Disney has not yet responded to a request for further comment.*
https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-tv-abc-news-fight-disney-carriage-dispute-2025-11