We’re entering week two of the stand-off between Disney and YouTube TV, but there’s been some promising movement. On Friday, YouTube told Reuters it’s open to negotiating a fair deal with Disney to restore ESPN, ABC, and the rest of Disney’s catalogue of networks, which went dark after a distribution deal between the two companies expired on November 1.
YouTube’s putting the blame squarely on Disney’s shoulders, accusing the entertainment company of distorting the facts and demanding higher fees than competitors and its own smaller platforms. YouTube claims Disney is seeking a rate above what Charter and DirecTV pay for its ABC networks, something Disney refutes. Without a deal in place, YouTube TV subscribers were left unable to see any college football games on ABC or ESPN last weekend, and it looks like this weekend will be round two for frustrated sports fans.
“Our team stands ready to make a fair agreement in line with their deals with other distributors and we encourage Disney to come to the table and do what’s best for our mutual customers,” YouTube told Reuters on Monday.
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For its part, Disney said it’s still in discussions with YouTube TV to restore its channels as subscribers head into “another sports-packed weekend without a deal in place.”
“YouTube TV continues to insist on receiving preferential terms that are below market and has made few concessions,” Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a memo to employees on Friday first reported by Variety.
Disney claims that it kicked off negotiations with a “deal that would cost less overall than the terms of our recently expired license,” arguing that it offered YouTube fair terms in line with agreements the company reached with other distributors over the summer.
Previously, Disney proposed restoring ABC access to YouTube TV subscribers for 24 hours during the election window as a matter of public interest. YouTube has also approached Disney about restoring ABC and ESPN while the two companies negotiate, saying in a blog post: “Those are the channels that people want.”
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Should Disney agree, subscribers wouldn’t have long to wait to regain access to those two highly in demand channels. But don’t hold your breath.
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