And just like that, the battle is over between Disney and Google.
The content giant announced Friday evening that it had reached a multi-year agreement that would allow its content, most notably ABC and the ESPN family of networks, to return to YouTube TV.
“This new agreement reflects our continued commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment and evolving with how audiences choose to watch,” Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in the statement. “It recognizes the tremendous value of Disney’s programming and provides YouTube TV subscribers with more flexibility and choice. We are pleased that our networks have been restored in time for fans to enjoy the many great programming options this weekend, including college football.”
New Multi-Year Deal Allows Disney’s Linear Programming Back On YouTube TV
Subscribers also get access to ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer app at no cost
The length of the deal was not specified, but Disney did announce that along with the return of the full linear portfolio (ABC, ESPN, FX, Nat Geo, FreeForm), YouTube TV subscribers will now get ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer app at no cost. Subscribers will also be able to view a selection of live and on-demand programming from ESPN Unlimited inside the YouTube TV platform itself.
The deal ends a stalemate that had gone on for more than two weeks, as Disney had pulled its content from YouTube TV on October 31. According to Morgan Stanley, ESPN was losing approximately $4.3 million per day not being on YouTube TV.
ESPN and ABC also reported some of its lowest numbers of the year for college football during the blackout. According to Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch, this week ABC failed to be the most-watched network during the two Saturday afternoon windows for the first time this year. BYU-Texas Tech at noon was beaten by Indiana-Penn State on Fox, while Texas A&M-Missouri at 3:30 was bested by Oregon-Iowa on CBS.
