YouTube TV removed ABC from its channel lineup in December 2022

YouTube TV no longer carries ABC as part of its standard package. The removal happened after a contract dispute between Google and Disney, which owns ABC. The channels went dark on December 8, 2022, and have not returned. If you were watching ABC on YouTube TV before that date, you lost access to live broadcasts, on-demand content, and DVR recordings of ABC shows.

This was not a temporary outage. YouTube TV subscribers in markets where ABC is available over the air can still watch it using an antenna, but they cannot stream it through the YouTube TV app or website. The loss affected access to ABC News, sports events carried on ABC, and prime-time shows that air on the network.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube TV removed ABC in December 2022 due to a contract dispute with Disney and has not restored it since.
  • Subscribers lost live ABC broadcasts, on-demand shows, and any DVR recordings of ABC content stored in their accounts.
  • You can still watch ABC over the air with an antenna in most U.S. markets, or through other streaming services that carry it.
  • YouTube TV did not offer refunds or credits when ABC was removed, though some subscribers reported being able to pause their accounts temporarily.

Why YouTube TV and Disney could not reach a deal

Google and Disney disagreed over the price YouTube TV would pay to carry ABC and other Disney-owned channels. Disney wanted higher fees; YouTube TV said the cost would force it to raise subscriber prices further. Both sides held firm, and the contract expired without a new agreement in place.

This type of dispute happens regularly in streaming television. Networks and streaming services negotiate contracts every few years, and sometimes they cannot agree on terms. When that happens, the network disappears from the service. YouTube TV has had similar disputes with other networks, though most have been resolved within weeks or months. The ABC situation has lasted longer than most.

What channels you lost when ABC went away

The removal included not just ABC itself but also ESPN and ESPN2, which are also owned by Disney. Subscribers also lost FX, FXX, and National Geographic channels. This made the loss more significant than losing a single broadcast network — it affected sports fans, news watchers, and people who relied on cable channels for entertainment.

The exact channels that disappeared varied slightly by region, but the core loss was the same across the country. If you had set up DVR recordings of shows on any of these channels, those recordings remained in your library but could not be played back.

Other ways to watch ABC without YouTube TV

The most direct option is an over-the-air antenna. ABC is a broadcast network, which means it transmits free to anyone with an antenna in range of a local station. You can buy a basic antenna for $20 to $60 and pick up ABC along with NBC, CBS, Fox, and PBS in most markets. This gives you live broadcasts but not on-demand content or DVR unless your TV or a separate device has that built in.

Hulu with Live TV carries ABC as part of its live streaming package. The cost is higher than YouTube TV was before the price increases, but it includes ABC, ESPN, and many of the other channels YouTube TV lost. Hulu also offers on-demand episodes of ABC shows through its standard streaming library.

Disney+ and ESPN+ are separate services that carry some ABC content, but they do not include live ABC broadcasts. The ABC app itself lets you watch some recent episodes of ABC shows for free, though full access to current episodes usually requires a cable or streaming TV subscription.

What happened to your DVR recordings

If you had recorded ABC shows before the channels were removed, those recordings stayed in your YouTube TV library. However, you cannot play them back. YouTube TV kept the recordings in your account but blocked playback because the licensing agreement no longer covers them. This is different from the recordings straightforward disappearing — they are still there, but you cannot watch them.

YouTube TV did not delete the recordings or charge you to keep them. They straightforward became unwatchable. If you had important recordings you wanted to keep, there was no way to read or export them before the removal happened.

Whether YouTube TV refunded subscribers

YouTube TV did not issue automatic refunds or credits when ABC and the other Disney channels were removed. The company's position was that the price you paid was for the service as it existed at the time of your subscription, and that contract disputes are part of how streaming television works.

Some subscribers reported that YouTube TV allowed them to pause their accounts for a month or two without being charged, but this was not a standard policy and depended on when you contacted the company and what you said. There was no formal pause or credit program tied to the ABC removal.

Whether ABC might come back to YouTube TV

As of now, there is no public timeline for ABC's return. Google and Disney have not announced a new negotiation or settlement. Disputes of this length sometimes resolve suddenly, but they can also last for years. YouTube TV subscribers should not expect ABC to return soon based on what either company has said publicly.

If you need ABC for specific shows or sports events, switching to Hulu with Live TV or using an antenna is more reliable than waiting for a resolution. The longer the dispute lasts, the less likely it becomes that YouTube TV will be your primary way of watching ABC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund for the time I could not watch ABC?

YouTube TV did not issue refunds or credits for the ABC removal. If you want to dispute the charge, you can contact YouTube TV customer service, but the company's standard position is that service interruptions due to contract disputes are not refundable.

Will my DVR recordings of ABC shows come back?

No. The recordings are blocked permanently because YouTube TV no longer has the right to show them. You cannot read them or move them to another service. If you need to keep recordings of ABC shows, you will need to use an antenna and a DVR device, or switch to a service that still carries ABC.

Can I watch ABC on the ABC app if I have a YouTube TV subscription?

The ABC app does not recognize YouTube TV subscriptions as a way to unlock full content. You would need a cable subscription or a different streaming TV service like Hulu with Live TV to use the ABC app's full features. Some recent episodes are free on the app, but not all.

Is YouTube TV cheaper now that it does not have ABC?

No. YouTube TV did not lower its price when ABC was removed. The base package costs the same as it did before the dispute, even though you are getting fewer channels. This is why many subscribers switched to other services after the removal.

What if I live in a market where I cannot get ABC over the air?

If you cannot receive ABC with an antenna, your options are Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV's competitors like Sling TV or FuboTV (if they carry ABC in your area), or waiting for YouTube TV and Disney to reach a deal. Check each service's channel list for your specific zip code before subscribing.