Disney, YouTube and ESPN
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YouTube TV customers set to get first account credit as battle with Disney about to spill into ‘MNF’
The battle between YouTube TV and ESPN doesn’t appear to have an end in sight — so users will be getting some money back.
Disney CEO Bob Iger was able to avoid commenting publicly on the YouTube TV blackout of ESPN and ABC (among other channels) amid a pricing dispute.
As YouTube TV and Disney have been at odds over all of Disney-owned networks being pulled from Google’s TV streaming platform, YouTube TV is offering a $20 credit for its subscribers. On Oct. 30, all ABC,
Walt Disney Company executives told employees on Friday that it appears their prized television properties ESPN and ABC will continue to be blacked out on Google-owned YouTube TV through the weekend.
Walt Disney Co. signed a new multiyear deal to make DraftKings Inc. the official betting site and odds provider for its ESPN sports networks, replacing a venture it had with casino operator Penn Entertainment Inc.
This is the third time in two months that YouTube TV has faced a contract dispute, but this one has had the largest consumer impact, by far.
Disney and YouTube TV still have no deal in place, three of Disney’s most senior TV executives told staffers in a memo Friday, and the company faces the prospect of another weekend heavy with sports telecasts that won’t be seen by a significant portion of potential viewers.
According to a new survey from Drive Research (via Variety ), YouTube TV subscribers aren't happy. In response to the standoff, 24% of respondents said they had already cancelled their subscription or were planning to do so. That's according to around 1,100 consumers who responded to the survey.
The announcement of the deal came as a surprise in January, as Fubo had previously sued Disney (along with Fox and Warner Bros.) over antitrust concerns related to Venu, the streamers’ proposed giant sports app.