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ESPN officially remains dark on YouTube TV for ‘Monday Night Football’

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Monday Night Football has officially kicked off on ESPN and ABC, but YouTube TV subscribers remain in the dark. This reality became apparent late Monday evening when YouTube TV issued a statement rejecting Disney’s offer to reactivate ABC on its platform for Tuesday night’s election coverage.

If a new distribution agreement were imminent, YouTube TV likely wouldn’t have addressed programming scheduled for Tuesday night. As a result, approximately 10 million YouTube TV subscribers find themselves at a loss, unable to watch Monday Night Football between the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys.

One would have expected that the Cowboys, of all teams, would have motivated both sides to reach a new deal. Networks rarely get the chance to air “America’s Team” and capitalize on the massive ratings they bring in every week. Likewise, YouTube TV isn’t eager to alienate the many Cowboys fans who might unsubscribe and switch to a competitor’s service due to the blackout.

Unfortunately, both sides remain at an impasse over price. Disney, holding valuable live sports programming across its ESPN family of networks, is leveraging the strength of its portfolio to negotiate the highest possible per-subscriber fee. Meanwhile, YouTube TV is pushing for lower rates aligned with those secured by the largest pay-TV distributors in the country, such as Comcast and Charter.

This standoff carries serious implications. NFL games are some of the most popular and widely viewed programming on television—especially when the Dallas Cowboys are playing. The fact that an agreement hasn’t been reached in time for Monday Night Football appears to confirm reports that both sides remain “far apart” on price.

Looking ahead, next Monday’s Monday Night Football matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles promises to be one of the most important games in the NFC this season. Missing one NFL game already sends a strong message that both sides are serious. Missing a second, featuring two Super Bowl contenders, would signal even more significant and potentially long-term issues.

Despite Monday’s blackout on YouTube TV, it’s still more likely than not that the two sides will reach an agreement relatively soon. Disney stands to lose roughly $5 million each day without access to the YouTube TV platform. Conversely, YouTube TV risks losing subscribers each day that Disney-owned networks remain unavailable.

There is clear motivation on both sides to resolve this dispute. The real question is: how long will paying customers be left holding the bag?
https://awfulannouncing.com/nfl/espn-dark-youtube-tv-monday-night-football.html

business, economy

Deadline looms: YouTube TV warns subscribers they may lose ESPN, ABC, and all Disney channels due to ‘costly economic terms’ proposed in ongoing contract dispute

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**YouTube TV and Disney in Ongoing Negotiations Over ABC and ESPN Content**

YouTube TV is currently engaged in critical negotiations with Disney to continue offering Disney-owned content, including ABC and ESPN, to its subscribers. The outcome of these negotiations could significantly impact YouTube TV users, with the potential removal of popular channels if an agreement is not reached.

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**The Current Situation**

On October 24, YouTube TV released a statement addressing the ongoing talks. The platform emphasized that it has been negotiating “in good faith” to secure a fair deal with Disney. However, YouTube TV claims that Disney’s proposed terms are “costly” and would likely lead to higher subscription prices for customers. They also noted that the deal could limit consumer choices while benefiting Disney’s other live TV services such as Hulu + Live TV and FuboTV.

Disney, on the other hand, accused YouTube TV of “exploiting its position at the expense of their own customers,” according to a spokesperson who spoke with the press. The stakes are high; in addition to popular entertainment channels, major sports programming like the NFL, NHL, and college football could also disappear from YouTube TV if negotiations fail.

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**Deadline Approaching**

Both parties have set a firm deadline to resolve the dispute: October 30 at 11:59 PM ET. If no agreement is reached by then, Disney’s content will be removed from YouTube TV’s lineup. In response, YouTube TV has pledged that if Disney’s channels remain unavailable for an extended period, subscribers will receive a $20 credit.

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**Past Negotiation Challenges**

This is not the first time YouTube TV has faced tough negotiations with major content providers.

– In 2021, during discussions with NBCUniversal, there was a significant risk of losing roughly 14 channels from the platform. After tense deliberations, the parties eventually reached a positive agreement.
– Earlier this year, YouTube TV also had to renegotiate terms with Paramount to keep CBS and CBS Sports available. This process threatened about 30 channels, drawing notable public attention. Although a deal was secured, YouTube TV subsequently raised its subscription price by $10 per month.

These past experiences highlight the recurring challenges YouTube TV faces in balancing content costs with service pricing.

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**What’s Next?**

Subscribers should monitor announcements closely as the October 30 deadline approaches. The potential removal of Disney channels like ABC and ESPN would mark a significant change to YouTube TV’s offerings, especially for sports fans and those who regularly watch Disney’s programming.

Stay tuned for updates on the negotiation progress and any official statements from either company.
https://www.androidcentral.com/streaming-tv/youtube-tv/youtube-tv-may-lose-espn-abc-as-disney-delivers-a-stern-warning