Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Big Development Emerges Amid ESPN-YouTube TV Standoff

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Nov 12, 2025 2:21 PM ET

The blackout of Disney-owned channels on YouTube TV is approaching two full weeks. The previous carriage contract between Disney, which owns ABC, ESPN, the SEC/ACC Networks and many more channels, and Google, YouTube TV's parent company, expired at the end of the day on Oct. 30, leaving sports fans unable to watch some of their favorite channels.

YouTube TV subscribers have missed out on two full weekends of sports, including the iconic "College GameDay" show, Saturday slates of college football and a pair of "Monday Night Football" NFL games.

Since the blackout has lasted this long, fans have begun to lose hope that a new deal will get done anytime soon.

BYU Cougars and Texas Tech Red Raiders helmets on the set of ESPN's College GameDay.© Mateo Rosiles/ Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

On Sunday, YouTube TV subscribers received an email from the company, offering them a $20 credit due to the blackout. This sparked even more disbelief that a new agreement was looming.

However, on Wednesday, The Athletic's Andrew Marchand reported on a new development in the contract negotiations.

"There is potential renewed momentum on a deal between YouTube TV and Disney that could restore ESPN to the platform's subscribers," Marchand said. "Disney has its quarterly earnings scheduled for Thursday afternoon, which is a potential impetus for a deal to be completed."

Marchand said that the money YouTube TV wants to pay for Disney's catalog has been the driving factor in the standoff. He said that distributors, like YouTube TV, have "complained" that Disney makes extra channels, like FX, Freeform and National Geographic, part of the bundle necessary to carry ESPN's networks.

While the negotiations begin to ramp up, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Disney CEO Bob Iger "have become more involved" in the contract talks, according to Marchand.

While it has been a rough couple of weeks for sports fans who use YouTube TV, there is hope that a new deal could be on the horizon.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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