After a rather tetchy two-week dispute over payments, all Disney-owned content is heading back to YouTube TV subscribers – including ABC, ESPN, FX, National Geographic, and other Disney-branded channels.
If you’re one of the 10 million people signed up for YouTube TV, these channels should show up again very soon, if they haven’t already. Previous library recordings are also being restored under the new deal.
It may take a little longer for other parts of the Disney-YouTube partnership to be restored. As part of the previous content deal expiring, the ability to purchase Disney movies and shows on YouTube was pulled – a block that 9to5Google says is still in place right now.
Presumably that functionality will also be restored in time. The terms of the new deal haven’t been disclosed by either Disney or YouTube TV, but the two now seem to be friends again after neither side really benefited from the blackout drama.
Both companies have provided upbeat press statements. YouTube TV says the deal “preserves the value of our service for our subscribers and future flexibility in our offers”, as well as apologizing for the disruption and thanking subscribers for their patience.
Disney says the new “multi-year distribution agreement” reflects the “exceptional entertainment” the company is able to offer YouTube TV subscribers, and “recognizes the tremendous value of Disney’s programming”.
The press releases are in fact so brimming with positivity that it’s hard to believe there was ever a problem in the first place. YouTube TV had begun to offer money back to subscribers left without any Disney content.
YouTube TV previously accused Disney of trying to “force deal terms that would raise prices on our customers”, while Disney suggested that YouTube TV had been using its market dominance to avoid paying fair rates for the Disney channels.
