Disney and Google at War: The Mouse Loses Millions Daily During Streaming Blackout
The Walt Disney Company is losing millions of dollars every day as its ongoing standoff with Google-owned YouTube TV stretches on with no resolution in sight. The dispute has left millions of subscribers without access to some of the most popular Disney-owned channels, including ESPN, ABC, and the Disney Channel, and has cost Disney an estimated $5 million per day.
Disney Goes Dark on YouTube TV
The blackout began on October 30, when Disney’s previous carriage deal with YouTube TV expired without renewal. Since then, every Disney-owned network has gone dark on the streaming platform.
According to The New York Times, Disney charges providers roughly $15 per month per subscriber for its ESPN networks. Awful Announcing reports that YouTube TV has about ten million monthly subscribers, which translates to approximately $150 million in monthly revenue from ESPN alone. The ongoing blackout means Disney is losing approximately $5 million per day in ESPN revenue, not including losses from other networks.
Negotiations Turn Hostile
Both companies have blamed each other for the stalemate. YouTube TV has accused Disney of unreasonable demands and being “unnecessarily aggressive” in the negotiation process.
“There are aspects of their portfolio that are doing well on our platform, especially sports,” a representative for YouTube TV said. “Disney has a very broad portfolio of channels where viewership on many networks is in decline or non-existent.”
Disney, however, insists that it is Google’s streaming platform refusing to reach a “fair deal.” The entertainment giant has also expressed frustration over YouTube TV’s refusal to reinstate ABC for Election Day coverage on November 4. Disney reportedly asked for a temporary return of the network for national news coverage, but YouTube TV declined.
While the corporate battle continues, YouTube TV subscribers have been left frustrated. Without access to ESPN and other Disney channels, sports fans and families have voiced concerns online and threatened to cancel their subscriptions.
To ease the backlash, YouTube TV promised customers a $20 credit if Disney channels remain unavailable for an extended period, though the credit’s timeline hasn’t been clearly defined. Some subscribers have received a $10 account credit, while others haven’t seen any adjustment.
Are you on Disney’s or Google’s side in this war of words? Let Disney Dining know in the comments!
