Wikimedia Commons/Jackyyyr
Subscribers to YouTube TV are about to lose access to Disney channels including local ABC affiliates, the various ESPN sports channels, the Disney Channel and the National Geographic channel as a result of the streaming service’s failure to reach a renewal of a distribution agreement with the entertainment and amusement-parks giant.
YouTube TV, a service of Alphabet
GOOGL,
GOOG,
unit Google, suggested in a message sent late Monday to subscribers, that negotiations would continue with the Walt Disney Co.
DIS,
through Friday, when the existing distribution pact is set to expire.
The message to subscribers indicated that the monthly base subscription price would be lowered if the Disney-owned channels vanish from the YouTube TV platform.
The comprehensive list of channels affected, according to YouTube TV:
- Your local ABC channel
- ABC News Live
- Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- Disney XD
- Freeform
- FX
- FXX
- FXM
- National Geographic
- National Geographic Wild
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPN3 (by authentication to the ESPN app)
- ESPNU
- ESPNEWS
- SEC Network
- ACC Network
“[I]f we are unable to reach a deal by Friday, the Disney-owned channels will no longer be available on YouTube TV starting December 17, and we will decrease our monthly price by $15, from $64.99 to $49.99,” the subscriber notification read, going on to note that a Disney streaming bundle is available for $13.99 monthly.
