On Monday, December 13, The Walt Disney Co. has issued a warning saying that its networks could be pulled from Google-owned YouTube TV streaming service sometime this week as their dispute over carriage fees intensifies.
Disney's channels which includes ESPN, ABC, FX, and Freeform could be pulled from the virtual multichannel video provider (vMVPD) if Disney and Google could not come into terms by 11:59 P.M. on December 17, Friday.
In a statement released on Monday afternoon, Disney said "Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution has a highly successful track record of negotiating such agreements with providers of all types and sizes across the country and is committed to working with Google to reach a fair, market-based agreement. We are optimistic that we can reach a deal and continue to provide their YouTube TV customers with our live sporting events and news coverage plus kids, family and general entertainment programming.”
In a blog post published also on Monday, YouTube addressed the ongoing negotiations saying, "Disney is an important partner for us and we’re in active conversations with them and working hard to keep their content on YouTube TV. Our ask to Disney, as with all our partners, is to treat YouTube TV like any other TV provider — by offering us the same rates that services of a similar size pay, across Disney’s channels for as long as we carry them. If Disney offers us equitable terms, we’ll renew our agreement with them.” Google also addred that if Disney decides to not go back, YouTube would decrease its monthly price by $15 to compensate subscribers. “We would love every member to stay with our service, but we give you the flexibility to pause or cancel your membership anytime. If you want to continue watching some of Disney’s content, you can consider signing up for their own service, The Disney Bundle, which they offer for $13.99/month.” the tech giant added.
If it were to happen, a total of almost twenty five (25) channels would be impacted, seventeen (17) live networks plus eight (8) ABC local stations. Alongside Hulu with Disney-controlled Live TV, YouTube TV is the most popular vMVPD and each service has about four (4) million subscribers.
This is not the first time Disney has come close to pulling its channel. In 2017, it almost pulled from Altice and again in 2019 with Dish and ATT.
