YouTube TV, Disney release statements as potential ESPN blackout looms

Another carriage dispute could be brewing for YouTube TV. The service’s deal with Disney expires next week, and both sides released statements about the situation.

If the deal expires, Disney stations – including ESPN and ABC – would be blacked out. The agreement is set to expire Oct. 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET, according to CNBC. ESPN also began airing ads Thursday afternoon warning of a potential blackout.

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In a statement to CNBC, a spokesperson for Disney said the company is hoping for a “fair deal” with Google, which owns YouTube TV. If that doesn’t happen and they can’t reach an agreement, a blackout would be the result.

“This is the latest example of Google exploiting its position at the expense of their own customers,” the statement read. “If we don’t reach a fair deal soon, YouTube TV customers will lose access to ESPN and ABC, and all our marquee programming – including the NFL, college football, NBA and NHL seasons – and so much more.”

A spokesperson for YouTube TV, meanwhile, told CNBC the service has been operating in “good faith” with Disney. If a deal doesn’t come together and the channels go away, customers would receive a $20 credit.

“We’ve been working in good faith to negotiate a deal with Disney that pays them fairly for their content on YouTube TV,” the statement read. “Unfortunately, Disney is proposing costly economic terms that would raise prices on YouTube TV customers and give our customers fewer choices, while benefiting Disney’s own live TV products – like Hulu + Live TV and, soon, Fubo.

“Without an agreement, we’ll have to remove Disney’s content from YouTube TV and if it remains unavailable for an extended period of time, we will offer subscribers a $20 credit.”

How potential dispute could impact sports fans

The timing of the carriage deal’s expiration comes as an important time in the calendar for ESPN. The NBA season tipped off this week, meaning the network has more marquee events in addition to Monday Night Football, NHL games and its college football schedule.

Additionally, ABC has been the big winner so far this college football season, airing some of the most-watched games to date. Disney has a media rights deal in place with the SEC, meaning games air on both ABC and ESPN, as well as SEC Network. SEC teams made up seven of the Top 10 most-watched teams in college football through Week 8.

It’s the latest carriage situation for YouTube TV, which held negotiations with other key media companies this calendar year. The company struck a deal with FOX in late August to avoid a blackout and landed another one with NBC in September prior to that deal’s expiration.