YouTube TV dropped ESPN in September 2024
YouTube TV and Disney (which owns ESPN) ended their contract on September 30, 2024. This means YouTube TV subscribers no longer have access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, or ESPN News through the service. The channels disappeared from the platform on that date, and YouTube TV removed ESPN from all its packages.
The two companies disagreed over the cost of carrying ESPN's channels. Disney wanted higher fees; YouTube TV said those fees would force them to raise prices significantly for all subscribers. Rather than pass the full cost to customers, YouTube TV chose to drop the channels instead.
This affected millions of YouTube TV subscribers who relied on ESPN for live sports, news, and analysis. If you were watching ESPN through YouTube TV before September 30, 2024, you lost access to those channels on that date.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube TV and Disney ended their contract on September 30, 2024, removing ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN News from the platform.
- The disagreement centered on the cost Disney charged YouTube TV to carry ESPN's channels, which YouTube TV said would require raising subscriber prices.
- YouTube TV subscribers who want to watch ESPN now need a separate subscription or a different streaming service that carries ESPN.
- Other streaming services still carry ESPN, including Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV's main competitor for live sports.
Where to watch ESPN if you had YouTube TV
If you were a YouTube TV subscriber watching ESPN, you have several options to continue watching sports. The most direct route is the ESPN+ streaming service, which costs about $11.99 per month and includes live games, original shows, and on-demand content. ESPN+ does not carry all the same live games as cable ESPN, so check the schedule for the sports you follow.
Hulu + Live TV is YouTube TV's closest competitor and still includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU in its package. It costs more than YouTube TV did before the price increase would have happened, but it gives you live ESPN channels plus Hulu's on-demand library. You can also bundle Hulu + Live TV with Disney+ and ESPN+ for a combined price.
If you want to keep YouTube TV and add ESPN separately, you can subscribe to both YouTube TV and ESPN+ at the same time. This costs less than switching to Hulu + Live TV if you only watch ESPN occasionally.
Cable and satellite providers like Comcast, DirecTV, and others still carry ESPN through traditional TV packages. These options typically cost more than streaming services but include many other channels alongside ESPN.
Why YouTube TV and Disney couldn't reach a deal
Disney owns ESPN and sets the price that streaming services must pay to carry the channels. Over the past few years, Disney has raised these fees significantly as fewer people watch cable television. YouTube TV said Disney's asking price for ESPN would have forced them to raise their monthly subscription cost by a substantial amount.
YouTube TV calculated that raising prices to cover ESPN's cost would hurt more subscribers than it would help. Rather than charge everyone more money, the company decided to drop ESPN and keep prices lower for the majority of customers who watch other sports or don't watch sports at all.
This is the same reason other streaming services have dropped channels or raised prices in recent years. When content owners like Disney raise their fees, streaming services face a choice: pass the cost to subscribers or stop carrying the content. YouTube TV chose the second option.
What YouTube TV subscribers lost access to
YouTube TV subscribers lost four ESPN-owned channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN News. These channels carry live college and professional sports, including college football, college basketball, NFL games, NBA games, and MLB games. They also air sports news, analysis shows, and documentaries.
The loss affected different subscribers differently depending on what sports they watched. Fans of college sports were hit hardest, since ESPN carries a large portion of college football and basketball games. Subscribers who primarily watched NBA, NFL, or MLB games on other networks were less affected, since those sports also air on ABC, TNT, and other channels.
YouTube TV still carries ABC, which broadcasts some ESPN-owned sports events, so subscribers did not lose access to all sports programming. However, they lost the dedicated ESPN channels that show games throughout the day and night.
Whether YouTube TV might bring ESPN back
There is no announced plan for YouTube TV and Disney to reach a new agreement. Both companies have publicly stated their positions, and neither has indicated they are close to a deal. Negotiations between streaming services and content owners often take months or years, and sometimes they never result in an agreement.
If YouTube TV and Disney do negotiate again, it would likely happen when their contract would have renewed or when one side decides the business case has changed. This could happen if YouTube TV's subscriber numbers drop significantly, or if Disney's asking price comes down. For now, both companies appear satisfied with their decision to part ways.
The broader trend in streaming suggests that major sports networks will continue to charge high fees, and some streaming services will continue to drop channels rather than raise prices. This means YouTube TV subscribers should not expect ESPN to return unless the economics of sports broadcasting change significantly.
How to check what sports channels YouTube TV still has
YouTube TV still carries many sports channels and networks, even without ESPN. The service includes ABC, which broadcasts some college and professional sports; TNT and TBS, which carry NBA games and other sports; and regional sports networks in some markets. You can see the full list of channels in your area by visiting the YouTube TV website and entering your zip code.
If you are a YouTube TV subscriber trying to figure out whether to stay or switch, make a list of the specific games and sports you watch most often. Then check which channels carry those games and whether YouTube TV still has those channels in your area. This will tell you whether YouTube TV still meets your needs or whether you need to switch to a service that carries ESPN.
YouTube TV also allows you to pause your subscription for up to three months without canceling. If you want to keep your account but temporarily stop paying while you figure out your options, you can do that through the YouTube TV app or website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get ESPN back on YouTube TV if I contact customer service?
No. The contract between YouTube TV and Disney ended on September 30, 2024, and customer service cannot restore channels that are no longer part of the service agreement. If you want to watch ESPN, you will need to subscribe to ESPN+ or switch to a different streaming service that carries ESPN.
Will YouTube TV's price go down now that ESPN is gone?
YouTube TV's price has not changed since ESPN was removed. The company said they dropped ESPN to avoid raising prices, not to lower them. Your YouTube TV subscription costs the same as it did before September 30, 2024, unless YouTube TV announces a separate price change.
Does YouTube TV still have any sports channels?
Yes. YouTube TV still carries ABC, TNT, TBS, Fox, and regional sports networks in many markets. These channels broadcast NFL, NBA, MLB, college football, and college basketball games. You will not have access to ESPN's dedicated channels, but you can still watch many live sports events through YouTube TV's other channels.
Is Hulu + Live TV the only alternative that has ESPN?
No. Hulu + Live TV, traditional cable and satellite providers, and YouTube TV bundled with ESPN+ all give you access to ESPN. Hulu + Live TV is the closest competitor to YouTube TV and still includes ESPN in its package. ESPN+ is the cheapest option if you only want ESPN content, but it does not include all the same live games as cable ESPN.
What happens to my YouTube TV account if I don't want to watch sports anymore?
You can keep your YouTube TV subscription and continue watching all the other channels and content available on the service. YouTube TV includes news, entertainment, movies, and other programming beyond sports. If you only subscribed for ESPN, you may want to cancel or pause your account and switch to a service that better matches what you want to watch.