Disney is currently embroiled in a heated carriage dispute with YouTube TV, resulting in the removal of key ESPN and sports channels from the streaming service just as the NFL season is heating up.
The blackout began abruptly, depriving subscribers of live broadcasts for some high-profile games, including the Monday night matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals.
This disruption has forced fans to scramble for alternatives, such as VPNs or last-minute switches to rival services like Hulu + Live TV, which carries ESPN.
Sports enthusiasts are expressing widespread fury on social media, with many decrying Disney’s alleged extortion and vowing to cancel their subscriptions.
And it’s set to get worse. If the dispute carries over into college game day this weekend, fans will be unable to watch some major matchups, such as ABC’s broadcast of No. 8 BYU vs. No. 9 Texas Tech and No. 4 Alabama vs. LSU.
Disney and YouTube TV are costing themselves money
The ongoing dispute isn’t just negatively impacting football fans, either. It’s costing Disney a fortune. The timing couldn’t be worse, as NFL viewership remains a cornerstone of sports media revenue.
Financially, Disney is hemorrhaging an estimated $5 million per day from lost subscriber fees alone, a staggering hit to its bottom line amid ongoing negotiations.
Disney loses $5M everyday it’s off YouTube TV https://t.co/w07K7LRjE8 pic.twitter.com/RbR0kQOAKb
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 3, 2025
If the dispute drags on unresolved for say, a month, projections indicate a potential total loss of $150 million for Disney.
The woke company is blaming Google’s YouTube TV for the standoff, but vowed to keep working to reach a deal that will make everybody as happy as a Disney princess.
“YouTube TV has declined to pay fair market rates for our content,” Disney said in a statement. “We remain committed to reaching a deal that reflects the true value of our sports and entertainment programming.”
The blame game might not sway YouTube TV, since they seem to be suffering less over the matter.
Disney pulled ESPN and ABC from YouTube TV.
— Ethan Brooks (@alt_w_v_g) November 3, 2025
Everyone assumes YouTube TV lost. It didn’t.
The numbers:
– Base plan: $82.99/month on ~9.4M subscribers = ~$781M monthly revenue
– YouTube TV offered a $20 credit if Disney stays off (if 500K claim it, cost = ~$10M)
– If Disney… https://t.co/iRkjX9aREl
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Corporate greed
Ultimately, the fallout highlights the precarious balance between content providers and distributors, leaving sports fans caught in the crossfire of corporate greed.
The NFL, meanwhile, couldn’t give a rip. They’re perfectly content knowing that if you, as a fan, want to access all of their games, you’re going to have to shell out significant subscription fees across multiple platforms.
Remember the old days of having one cable bill?
“Every day this blackout continues, Disney loses millions in revenue, and YouTube TV risks losing loyal customers,” media analyst Tom Rogers said, according to TMSPN. “Both sides are playing a high-stakes game, and the fans are caught in the middle.”
Football fans should hold firm and let them self-immolate over the matter. In reality, you can follow just about any game on an app on your phone. Make Disney suffer in the YouTube TV standoff.