YouTube TV Offers $20 Credit After Disney Blackout as Dispute Enters Second Week

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For the second year in a row, a disagreement between YouTube TV and Disney has resulted in millions of homes losing access to channels like ABC, ESPN, and FX, as well as other networks owned by Disney. The issue started when their agreement ended shortly before midnight on October 30, 2025. With viewers now missing out on football games and Disney shows, YouTube TV is attempting to ease frustration by offering a $20 credit.

The YouTube TV Disney Credit

Variety reports that subscribers who qualify will receive an email starting November 9th with details on how to use a $20 credit towards their next bill. These credits should appear by November 12th, assuming a new agreement isn’t reached by then.

YouTube TV understands subscribers are upset about the service interruption and is still asking Disney to find a reasonable solution so their channels can be brought back quickly.

The company expects the service interruption to be resolved within a few hours, as soon as Disney reaches a new agreement. They’re hoping to have it fixed before the Eagles-Packers Monday Night Football game on November 10th, which usually broadcasts on ABC and ESPN.

The Sticking Point: Price

YouTube TV recently increased its monthly price to $82.99, and the company says Disney is asking for a significantly higher fee for its channels. This increase would force YouTube TV to raise its prices even more. Disney, however, claims YouTube TV isn’t willing to pay a reasonable price for their content.

Disney leaders Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, and Jimmy Pitaro shared a message with employees confirming that negotiations are currently at a standstill.

The memo explained they don’t have an answer yet, and won’t before the busy weekend of sports events, as a deal hasn’t been reached.

The group claims Disney’s deal is standard, similar to what over 500 other distributors offer, and even includes customized content for various viewers. However, YouTube disagrees, stating that they were the ones who suggested offering different subscription levels based on content type.

Customers Caught in the Crossfire

As YouTube TV and Disney continue to disagree over costs and channel packages, viewers are the ones suffering. A recent internal survey reported by Variety found that almost 24% of users will cancel their subscriptions if the current programming dispute isn’t resolved.

People on social media haven’t been impressed with the $20 credit, with many joking that it’s only enough to pay for one movie rental or a single month of another streaming service. One commenter perfectly captured this feeling in a comment on Variety’s website.

“They’re fighting over millions, and they offer us a cup of coffee.”

The Broader Impact

It’s becoming more and more frequent to see disagreements between traditional TV companies and streaming services over how much content should cost. Traditional companies are trying to justify increasing prices, while streaming services want to keep costs down to avoid losing subscribers. Even though Disney’s channels, especially ESPN, still offer popular live sports, they’re not unaffected by the growing number of people canceling cable and simplifying their streaming plans.

If the issue isn’t resolved quickly, the blackout could last throughout the holidays, which would be a major problem for everyone involved. This is especially concerning because NFL and college football games typically have the highest viewership during the fall.

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2025-11-09 15:56