There is still no resolution in the dispute between Disney and YouTube TV over carriage rights fees, and according to one media writer, there might not be one for some time.
Joe Flint of the Wall Street Journal joined TJ Rives for this week’s episode of the Last Word on Sports Media podcast, and according to the senior media writer, they are still “very far apart” from coming to an agreement.
“I wish I could tell you that progress is being made and that a resolution is not far away, but I can’t,” Flint told Rives. “Normally, in these sorts of situations, if headway is being made, they tell us reporters out there. ‘Yeah, we’ve got some differences, but we’re making some headway.’ They try to be optimistic. There’s no optimism coming from either side right now.”
Flint says the rift between the two sides, now in its second full week, has been nasty for reasons that the general public may not be aware of.
“There was an [executive] at Disney and at ESPN by the name of Justin Connolly,” Flint remarked. “He oversaw all the distribution deals for Disney. He’s the one who would normally be negotiating against YouTube. Except a few months ago, Justin wiggled out of his contract with Disney and now works for YouTube.”
Flint says a lawsuit prevents Connolly from participating in the negotiations between the two sides, but the Wall Street Journal writer also speculates that Connolly’s presence in the negotiations might actually help both parties, seeing as he is very familiar with how both sides operate.
Joe and TJ also get into the conundrum of Sunday Ticket subscribers feeling stuck with YouTube TV because they paid for the full season of the service and won’t get a refund for what they haven’t used. They also speculate on how long this stalemate could go, and if either side will buckle in the rift.
