On Thursday, October 31, 2025, Disney’s network went dark on Google’s Play TV platform and YouTube TV.
As reported byReuters, the company released a statement saying Disney channels went dark on YouTube after negotiations to reach a licensing deal failed, resulting in the current blackout.
Millions of Americans who rely on YouTube TV for popular entertainment channels lost access to Disney-owned networks after contract negotiations failed.
The affected Disney networks include ESPN, ABC, FX, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, Disney Channel, ABC News Live and others.
The blackout underscores growing tensions in the streaming industry, where disputes over carriage fees are increasingly impacting viewers’ –
The significant change is the ability to access key content, especially during major live sporting events, as more consumers turn to streaming platforms rather than traditional cable.
The Walt Disney Company's suite of channels, including ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel, FX, National Geographic, and others, was removed from YouTube TV after the companies failed to reach a new distribution agreement before the previous contract expired.
Both sides issued statements blaming each other for the standoff, which affects over 10 million subscribers nationwide.
YouTube said in a statement on X, "We'll not agree to terms that disadvantage our members while benefiting Disney's TV products."
Meanwhile, Disney said, "Google’s YouTube TV has chosen to deny its subscribers the content they value most by refusing to pay fair rates for our channels, including ESPN and ABC."
“With a $3 trillion market cap, Google is using its market dominance to eliminate competition and undercut the industry-standard terms we’ve successfully negotiated with every other distributor,” Disney added.
Subscribers lost access to more than 20 Disney-owned channels, along with associated content in their DVR libraries.
In the meantime, YouTube TV subscribers who want to watch Disney channels may have little choice but to turn to the company's own platforms — which come with their own price tags.
YouTube TV says Disney is proposing terms that would be too costly, leading to higher prices and fewer choices for its subscribers.
Consumers can continue to watch Disney's sports programming on ESPN — but it will cost extra.
For streaming, the network launched its own platform earlier this year under the same ESPN name, starting at $29.99 a month.
Whereas other Disney content can be found on platforms like Hulu, Disney+ and Fubo and again, those come with their own price tags.
Disney also lets people bundle ESPN with Hulu and Disney+ for $35.99 a month — or $29.99 for the first year.