Good news for sports fans frustrated by the ongoing ESPN blackout. No, YouTube and Disney still haven’t struck a new carriage deal to restore service (booo), but YouTube TV is taking the sting out a bit and giving subscribers a $20 credit for their troubles.
YouTube TV will begin emailing subscribers today (November 9) a $20 credit they can apply to their next billing statement, a source briefed on the negotiations told The Athletic. All subscribers should receive the credit no later than November 12, so be sure to keep an eye on your inbox.
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A $20 credit only goes so far to smooth over this frustrating standoff that’s gone down like a lead balloon as college football and basketball seasons heat up. With roughly 10 million subscribers, YouTube TV is the fourth-largest television distributor in the U.S. Once the companies reach a deal, ESPN and other Disney-owned channels should be restored to YouTube TV “in a matter of hours,” according to YouTube. But with the clock ticking down until the NFL “Monday Night Football” Eagles-Packers game and no deal in sight, that’s little consolation.
Both sides are pointing fingers for the blackout. YouTube’s accused Disney of distorting the facts and demanding an unprecedented fee increase. Meanwhile, Disney argues the tech giant “continues to insist on receiving preferential terms that are below market and has made few concessions,” according to an internal memo to employees on Friday shared by Variety. It’s worth noting that Disney has a vested interest in a prolonged blackout since sports fans can still catch ESPN on its Hulu + Live TV plan, which is 25% off right now through November 18.
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