Photo illustration of the YouTube TV logo displayed on a smartphone, with the YouTube logo in the background.
Disney content, including channels like ABC and ESPN, was removed from Google's YouTube TV overnight after the two companies failed to renew a streaming contract.
"Despite our best efforts, we have not been able to reach a fair deal, and starting today, Disney programming will not be available on YouTube TV," the platform said in a statement.
More than 20 channels would be removed from YouTube TV, the company said, adding if the content is unavailable for an extended period of time, the company would offer users a $20 credit.
Disney said in a statement, "Google's YouTube TV has chosen to deny their 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. We know how frustrating this is for YouTube TV subscribers and remain committed to working toward a resolution as quickly as possible," Disney said.
The two sides had been engaged in negotiations but were unable to reach a new distribution agreement before their existing contract expired Oct. 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Disney warned last week it could result in a content blackout.
In a Thursday statement on its official blog, YouTube argued Disney had "used the threat of a blackout on YouTube TV as a negotiating tactic to force deal terms that would raise prices on our customers," and that Disney was now following through on that threat.
"We will not agree to terms that disadvantage our members while benefiting Disney's own live TV products," YouTube TV said in a post on its help center webpage. Disney's live TV offerings include Hulu + Live TV and Fubo .
... continue reading