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How YouTube TV subscribers can get their $20 credit while Disney’s ESPN and ABC remain off the air
Open YouTube TV in a web browser and go to your Membership Settings. Click Membership. Click Manage. Click Cancel Membership, and then click Cancel to confirm.
Disney CFO Hugh Johnston warns sports fans that the ongoing ESPN-YouTube TV carriage dispute could go "as long as they want".
YouTube TV's 10 million customers have been without Disney channels for two weeks; CEO Bob Iger told Wall Street analysts: "We're trying really hard ... working tirelessly to close this deal."
The ongoing carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Disney has entered its third week, leaving millions of subscribers without access to major channels like ABC, ESPN, FX, Freeform, and National Geographic. The blackout began on Oct. 30 after contract negotiations between the two media giants failed to result in a new agreement.
The YouTube TV Disney fight now centers on ABC pricing, not ESPN, creating widespread blackouts and a sizeable weekly revenue hit.
On the streaming topic, analysts pointed out that they were taking into account 14 days of impact from the ongoing YouTube TV blackout, which they estimated at “$60 million revenue headwind.” This means that with each week that passes with Disney channels not accessible via YouTube TV, Disney is losing around $30 million.
This past weekend, YouTube TV subscribers were sent an email saying they will be eligible for a $20 credit on their account due to this standoff, but most users just want their channels back. Puck News reporter John Ourand wrote on Monday that YouTube TV is demanding rates from Disney that are lower than some of the other large TV distributors in the country.
YouTube TV customers are growing frustrated by missing big events. Analysts say the fight must be resolved soon to avoid alienating them.