Google Denies Disney‘s Election Day Request to Restore ABC to YouTube TV
Amid ongoing contract disputes, Google rejected a last-minute plea from The Walt Disney Company to temporarily reinstate ABC on YouTube TV for election coverage on november 4.
The escalating standoff between Google and Disney continues to impact consumers, as negotiations over streaming fees remain unresolved. Disney pulled a suite of channels – including ABC and ESPN – from youtube TV on October 30, leaving subscribers without access to key programming. In a bid to ensure viewers could access election coverage,Disney requested a one-day restoration of ABC on the platform.
Google countered that the request would create “customer confusion” and pointed to option news sources available on YouTube TV and YouTube itself. According to a statement published on YouTube’s official blog on November 3, “In fact, on the last two U.S.election days, the vast majority of tuned in YouTube TV subscribers chose not to watch ABC.” This data,according to Google,suggests limited demand for ABC’s election coverage among its subscriber base.
Disney, though, argued that restoring ABC, even temporarily, would serve the public interest. “We believe in putting the public interest frist and hope YouTube TV will take this small step for thier customers while we continue to work toward a fair agreement,” a disney representative stated on November 3. The company maintains that Google is attempting to “undercut” existing distribution agreements.
The core of the dispute centers on financial terms. Google alleges that Disney is proposing “costly economic terms,” while disney insists google is attempting to devalue its content. Google has responded by urging Disney to restore ABC and ESPN channels to YouTube TV while broader negotiations continue,asserting,”Those are the channels that people want.”
Disney, in an email to USA TODAY, indicated that a “fair proposal” to restore channels is already on the table with Google.
The channels currently unavailable on YouTube TV due to the dispute include:
- ABC
- ABC News Live
- ACC Network
- Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- Disney XD
- ESPN
- ESPNews
- ESPN2
- ESPNU
- Freeform
- FX
- FXM
- FXX
- Localish
- Nat Geo
- Nat Geo Wild
- SEC Network
- ESPN Deportes, Baby TV Español, Nat Geo Mundo (Spanish-language plan)
As the dispute unfolds, viewers in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City will be impacted during off-year elections featuring gubernatorial races and the New York City mayoral vote. USA TODAY will provide thorough election coverage throughout the day, both with reporters on the ground and via streaming on
