Archive · 4 Nov 2025
YouTube TV Rejects Disney's ABC Request for Election Day
Imagine your cable TV provider, YouTube TV, and a TV channel company, Disney, are having a disagreement about how much YouTube TV should pay Disney to show its channels like ABC and ESPN.
Because they couldn't agree, Disney's channels stopped being available on YouTube TV.
Disney asked YouTube TV to please bring back ABC just for Election Day so people could watch the news.
However, YouTube TV said no.
They explained that only bringing ABC back for one day would be confusing for viewers who would then lose it again.
YouTube TV also mentioned that people can get election news from many other places, including other channels on YouTube TV and even for free on YouTube itself.
They also pointed out that most YouTube TV viewers don't even watch ABC on Election Day.
YouTube TV has refused Disney's request to restore ABC programming for Election Day, citing customer confusion.
Disney networks, including ABC and ESPN, went offline for YouTube TV subscribers on Thursday night due to a carriage dispute.
Sports content, such as college football and Monday Night Football, has been significantly impacted by the ongoing negotiation impasse.
YouTube TV argues that election news is widely accessible through other broadcast stations, news networks, and the free YouTube service.
Disney expressed a desire to prioritize the public interest by restoring ABC for Election Day while negotiations continue.
- Who
- YouTube TV and Disney
- What
- YouTube TV rejected Disney's request to temporarily restore ABC for Election Day coverage.
- When
- Tuesday, around Election Day
- Where
- YouTube TV platform
- Why
- YouTube TV stated that a one-day restoration would cause customer confusion and that election news is widely available through other means.
YouTube TV
Disney
Restoring ABC for Election Day
YouTube TV
Believes a one-day restoration would cause customer confusion and that election news is widely available elsewhere, including free on YouTube.
Disney
Requested the temporary restoration of ABC to ensure subscribers have access to important election information, emphasizing public interest.
Impact of Blackout
YouTube TV
Acknowledges the disruption but offers alternative news sources and points out that few YouTube TV subscribers watched ABC on past election days.
Disney
Highlights that sports programming has been a primary casualty and implicitly argues that access to major network news should be maintained.
- Subscribers
- 10 million
- Dispute Started
- Thursday night
- Affected Networks
- ABC, ESPN, and other Disney networks
- YouTube TV Launch
- 2017