YouTube TV Makes Key Demand Amid Blackout

The YouTube TV dispute with Disney has caused many sports fans to miss their favorite teams’ games.
The blackout boiled over with millions of subscribers unable to access ESPN and Monday Night Football, as well as NBA and college games.
Now, as sports fans vent their frustration on social media, additional details have emerged about YouTube TV’s key demand. According to Awful Announcing, a “sticking point” in the dispute is that YouTube TV is hoping to get ESPN Unlimited as part of the offering.
However, Disney’s executives took to the airwaves on November 13 to indicate they believe their position is sound.
YouTube Executives Are Insistent That Viewers Have Access to All ESPN Content, the Report Says
Why is ESPN Unlimited so important to YouTube TV?
ESPN Unlimited offers all of ESPN’s “streaming and linear channels,” Awful Announcing reported.
According to CNBC’s Alexander Sherman, YouTube executives “want to make sure customers will have access to any content that’s available on ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service,” and that includes ESPN Unlimited,” within the YouTube TV viewing experience.
However, Disney’s executives didn’t sound like they are ready to blink any time soon.
Disney’s CEO Bob Iger Defended the Deal That the Company Offered YouTube TV
Disney CEO Bob Iger is speaking out about the talks with YouTube TV. His comments came as Disney’s stock price plunged, but its chief executive officer defended the company’s fiscal strength.
“The deal that we have proposed is equal to or better than what other large distributors have already agreed to,” Iger said, according to Reuters. Iger has drawn the ire of sports fans, some of whom expressed anger that he never addressed the YouTube blackout during an appearance on ManningCast with Peyton and Eli Manning.
“And while we’ve been working tirelessly to close this deal and restore our channel to the platform, it’s also imperative that we make sure that we agree with a deal that reflects the value that we deliver, which both YouTube, by the way, and Alphabet have told us is greater than the value of any other provider,” he added.
Disney’s Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston indicated that Disney will hold out for the deal the company wants.
“We’re ready to go as long as they want to,” Johnston told CNBC on November 13.
“We’re in the middle of negotiations right now. Things are live. They’re happening. Obviously, as we entered the year, we knew this was going to be a challenging battle and we prepared ourselves for it, and we’re ready to go as long as they want to,” Johnston told CNBC.
The blackout means that fans lost access to ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network and ESPNU, among other channels.
“As of October 30, 2025, our agreement with Disney has expired, and their content is not currently available on YouTube TV,” YouTube TV wrote in a note to subscribers.
“Each time we renew our contracts with network partners, we advocate for fair pricing and greater flexibility to offer our subscribers the best possible live TV experience. Our current agreement with Disney has approached its renewal date, and we will not agree to terms that disadvantage our members while benefiting Disney’s own live TV products.”