YouTube TV Rejects Disney’s Request to Restore ABC on Election Day Amid Fee Dispute

YouTube TV said it will not bring back ABC for Election Day despite a request from Disney, as the companies remain locked in a dispute over carriage fees. The platform argued that reinstating the channel for a single day could create confusion among its roughly 10 million subscribers.

Disney had sought to temporarily restore ABC ahead of the November 4 elections, which include key gubernatorial races and a major California ballot initiative. YouTube instead proposed reactivating all Disney-owned channels, including ESPN and FX, while negotiations continue.

The blackout began on October 31 after the two sides failed to agree on new programming terms. Each has accused the other of making unreasonable demands. YouTube has said it will issue a $20 monthly credit to affected customers if the dispute drags on.

In response, Disney streamed its football coverage for free via the ESPN app over the weekend. However, without a resolution, YouTube TV users will miss upcoming NFL games, including the Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals matchup.

YouTube TV, owned by Alphabet, offers around 100 live channels for $83 per month. Analysts estimate the service currently has between 9.5 million and 10 million subscribers.