YouTube TV subscribers are still missing out on Monday Night Football after the abrupt removal of Disney-owned channels, including ABC and ESPN, on October 31. The outage has persisted, with no clear timeline for when these channels will be restored. This ongoing disagreement centers around the “carriage fee” that YouTube TV pays to Disney for broadcasting its channels. Disney argues that YouTube TV is not compensating them fairly, and past disputes have resulted in similar standoffs, including a brief outage in 2021 that was resolved quickly.
Currently, YouTube TV boasts over 9 million subscribers, making it the leader among internet TV providers, while Hulu, which is owned by Disney, has about 4.3 million subscribers. In light of the Disney channel outage, YouTube TV has promised subscribers a $20 credit if the interruption continues. Many users have already started receiving emails detailing how to claim this credit, which can be applied towards their next billing cycle.
Subscribers paying through Google Play or their mobile service may receive this credit automatically, while others will need to follow specific steps outlined in their emails. The company has assured that all credits should be processed by November 12, and they are open to future billing credits if the outage persists. A spokesperson stated that their main goal is to negotiate an agreement that reinstates Disney’s channels on the platform.
The channels currently unavailable to subscribers include a broad range of Disney content, from sports networks like ESPN to family-oriented channels such as Disney Channel and Freeform. This loss has left fans searching for alternatives to catch their favorite programs and sporting events.
For those eager to catch Monday Night Football in particular, a few options remain. If they are located within range of a local ABC affiliate, viewers can use an aerial TV antenna to access the broadcast. Alternatively, subscribing to other services like Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, ESPN+, Fubo, or DirecTV Stream can provide access to the missing Disney channels.
As negotiations between YouTube TV and Disney continue behind the scenes, it remains to be seen how soon subscribers will regain access to their favorite channels. History suggests that these disputes can often resolve quickly, offering hope for a speedy resolution. Meanwhile, viewers are encouraged to explore alternate options to ensure they don’t miss key sports events.