YouTube TV Loses ESPN, ABC
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Disney’s channels will be removed from YouTube’s pay-TV platform after the two media giants failed to reach a new carriage agreement before Thursday’s midnight deadline. The blackout will leave subscribers unable to watch content from Disney networks, including ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel, FX, National Geographic and Freeform.
YouTube says it will refund subscribers $20 if the channels are off the network for too long. YouTube TV is already among the most expensive live digital TV services on offer in the US. And it’s about to pinch its subscribers a little more as it has failed to renew its deal with Disney.
Disney has been 'unnecessarily aggressive" in carriage talks with YouTube TV, with an "antiquated view" of the economics of pay-TV, the tech giant says.