The trouble started fast: YouTube TV loses Disney channels right before a packed weekend of college football, NBA games, and new network premieres. As of late October 2025, more than a dozen Disney-owned networks, including ABC, ESPN, FX, Freeform, and National Geographic, were pulled from YouTube TV after the two companies failed to reach a new carriage agreement. Which means if you rely on YouTube TV for live sports or primetime, you’re suddenly missing a big chunk of programming.
The blackout happened at 11:59 p.m. ET on a Thursday night, giving little time for subscribers to prepare. YouTube TV confirmed the channels had “expired” from their lineup, and Disney said Google wasn’t willing to accept terms that were “consistent with industry standards.” Both sides are pointing fingers, but for millions of paying viewers, the biggest question is: When will this end?
What Got Pulled?
When a deal collapses, it’s rarely just one network. In this case, YouTube TV dropped more than 20 channels tied to The Walt Disney Company. That includes 20 ABC affiliates, ESPN, and secondary networks (ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network), Disney Channel, FX, FXX, Freeform, Nat Geo, and others. Even DVR recordings tied to those channels are currently blocked or unavailable, meaning if you saved last week’s college football rivalry game or the latest episode of The Golden Bachelorette, you may not be able to watch it at all.
For sports fans, the impact is huge. ESPN alone carries Monday Night Football, a chunk of NBA games, NCAA matchups, and exclusive playoff coverage for multiple leagues. ABC is also hosting major election coverage and fall TV premiers. Losing both within one broadcast blackout isn’t just an inconvenience; it hits at the core of why many people pay for live TV in the first place.
Why It Happened: A Streaming Standoff
Here’s the short version: money.
Disney and YouTube TV had been negotiating a new distribution deal. One that determines how much YouTube TV pays Disney in order to carry its channels. Disney says they asked for “fair market rates,” which are what other streaming TV bundles and traditional cable services already pay. YouTube says Disney was pushing for price increases that would eventually land on subscribers’ bills.
Neither side has revealed exact figures, but the logic is familiar. Disney owns extremely valuable live TV content, especially live sports. YouTube TV wants to keep prices lower than traditional cable. When neither budges, the channels go dark.
YouTube TV has already wanted that without a deal, they may have to lower monthly subscription costs or offer credits. They did the same thing in 2021 when Disney briefly pulled its channels during another contract dispute. So, history is repeating itself here.
YouTube TV Loses Disney Channels: So, What Now?
If you wake up to the news that YouTube TV loses Disney channels, you’re not completely out of luck. Plenty of alternative services still carry Disney-owned networks, including Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV’s Orange tier (for ESPN only), Fubo, and cable providers like Spectrum or Comcast.
You can also watch ABC for free if you have a basic HDTV antenna, which is something a lot of people forget still works. It won’t help with ESPN or FX, but it does give you live access to local news, The Bachelor, and major network events like The Oscars.
YouTube TV is offering $20 credit to affected users if the blackout continues, but it’s unclear how long that will take to activate or how many billing cycles will be affected. For now, they’ve offered a standard corporate apology and assured users that they are “working hard to restore programming as soon as possible.”
For now, the best move is to stay flexible. Whether you jump ship because YouTube TV loses Disney channels, pick up an antenna, or wait out the dispute, the cord-cutting era isn’t nearly as smooth as streaming once promised.