Where the ESPN and YouTube TV Dispute Stands

As of early 2024, ESPN and YouTube TV have not reached a new carriage agreement, meaning YouTube TV subscribers in some markets cannot watch ESPN channels. YouTube TV removed ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned channels from its lineup in December 2022 after the previous contract expired. The two companies have negotiated multiple times since then, but have not announced a final deal.

The core disagreement centers on how much YouTube TV pays Disney (which owns ESPN) for the right to carry those channels. YouTube TV wants to keep costs down to maintain its subscription price, while Disney is asking for higher fees. This type of dispute happens regularly in the streaming and cable industries—distributors and content owners often disagree on price, and negotiations can take months or years.

If you are a YouTube TV subscriber, you should know that the status of ESPN on your account depends on your location and when you subscribed. Some subscribers still have access to ESPN channels through existing agreements, while others do not. Checking your channel lineup in the YouTube TV app will show you exactly what you can watch in your area.

Key Takeaways

  • ESPN channels have been unavailable on YouTube TV since December 2022, though some existing subscribers in certain regions may still have access under older agreements.
  • The dispute is about the price YouTube TV pays Disney for ESPN rights, not about technical problems or service issues.
  • Negotiations between the two companies have continued but have not resulted in a new public agreement.
  • Your ability to watch ESPN on YouTube TV depends on your location and subscription status, which you can verify in the app's channel guide.

Why Content Carriage Disputes Happen

When a streaming service or cable provider wants to carry a channel, it must pay the channel's owner a fee. That fee is negotiated between the two companies, and both sides have leverage. The content owner (in this case, Disney) can threaten to remove the channel if the price is not met. The distributor (YouTube TV) can threaten to drop the channel if the price is too high, or to promote competing services instead.

These negotiations are common and usually resolve within weeks or months. However, some disputes drag on because the two sides are far apart on price. YouTube TV has publicly stated it wants to keep subscription costs reasonable for customers, while Disney has raised fees across the industry as traditional cable viewership declines and streaming becomes more important to its business.

During a dispute, subscribers lose access to the contested channels. This happened to YouTube TV customers with ESPN, and it has also happened with other services—for example, Roku and Disney had a carriage dispute in 2022 that temporarily removed Disney+ and ESPN+ from Roku devices.

What Channels Are Affected

The December 2022 removal affected multiple Disney-owned channels beyond ESPN. YouTube TV subscribers lost access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and SEC Network. ABC channels in some markets were also affected, though availability varies by location because ABC is broadcast television and has different licensing rules than cable channels.

Disney also owns ESPN+, which is a separate streaming service. ESPN+ is not included in YouTube TV and requires its own subscription. Some YouTube TV subscribers have chosen to add ESPN+ separately to maintain access to sports content, though ESPN+ does not carry all the same games and events as the ESPN cable channels.

How to Check Your Channel Lineup

To see whether ESPN is available on your YouTube TV account, open the YouTube TV app on any device and go to the "Browse" or "Channels" section. Search for ESPN or look under the Sports category. The app will show you which channels are available in your area and which are not.

If ESPN channels appear in your lineup, you can watch them as part of your regular YouTube TV subscription. If they do not appear, you do not have access to them through YouTube TV at this time. You can also check the YouTube TV website for a full channel list by zip code.

Keep in mind that channel availability can change if a new agreement is reached. YouTube TV will notify subscribers if ESPN channels are added back to the service.

Alternative Ways to Watch ESPN

If you cannot watch ESPN through YouTube TV, you have other options. ESPN+ is a standalone streaming service that carries some ESPN content, though not all games and events. The ESPN app itself allows you to stream some content if you have a cable or streaming login from a provider that carries ESPN.

Traditional cable and satellite providers like Comcast, Charter, and DirecTV still carry ESPN channels as part of their packages. Hulu + Live TV, another streaming service, also includes ESPN channels. Sling TV offers ESPN on its Orange plan. Each service has different pricing and channel lineups, so comparing them depends on what other channels and content matter to you.

For specific games or events, you can sometimes watch through the league's own streaming service—for example, the NFL has NFL+, and the NBA has NBA League Pass. These services do not replace ESPN but can supplement it for fans of specific sports.

What Happens If a Deal Is Reached

If YouTube TV and Disney reach a new agreement, YouTube TV will add ESPN channels back to the service. The company will likely announce this publicly and notify subscribers. Depending on the terms of the deal, there could be a price increase for YouTube TV, though YouTube TV has not committed to any specific pricing.

When carriage disputes end, the resolution is usually announced by both companies in a press release. Subscribers typically regain access within hours or a day of the announcement. YouTube TV has not indicated when or if a deal might be finalized, so there is no timeline to share with customers right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will YouTube TV raise its price if ESPN comes back?

YouTube TV has not announced any price changes tied to an ESPN deal. However, if the company pays Disney more for ESPN rights, it is possible that subscription costs could increase at some point. YouTube TV has raised prices in the past for other reasons, including adding new channels and features.

Can I get a refund or credit if ESPN is not available?

YouTube TV does not offer refunds or credits for unavailable channels during carriage disputes. The company treats the service as available even if some channels are missing. If you want to cancel your subscription due to the lack of ESPN, you can do so without penalty.

Does this affect YouTube TV's other sports channels?

No. Other sports channels like Fox Sports, NBC Sports, and regional sports networks remain available on YouTube TV. Only Disney-owned channels (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, and some ABC channels) were affected by this dispute.

How long do these disputes usually last?

Carriage disputes vary widely in length. Some resolve in weeks, while others take months or longer. The ESPN and YouTube TV dispute has lasted over a year, which is on the longer side but not unprecedented. The length depends on how far apart the two sides are on price and how much pressure each side feels from customers or investors.

Can I watch ESPN games through the ESPN app if I have YouTube TV?

The ESPN app requires a cable or streaming login from a provider that carries ESPN. Since YouTube TV does not currently carry ESPN, your YouTube TV login will not work in the ESPN app. You would need a login from another provider like Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, or a traditional cable company.