ESPN and YouTube TV reached a new carriage agreement in January 2024

YouTube TV and ESPN ended a contract dispute that had blacked out ESPN channels for YouTube TV subscribers starting January 1, 2024. The two companies announced a new multi-year agreement on January 12, 2024, restoring access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNEWS. The deal also includes access to ABC when ESPN owns the broadcast rights to major sporting events.

The blackout lasted 11 days and affected roughly 4 million YouTube TV subscribers who lost access to college football playoffs, NFL games, and other sports programming during the dispute. YouTube TV's monthly price remained at $72.99 per month during negotiations, though the company had raised rates earlier in 2023.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube TV subscribers regained access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNEWS on January 12, 2024, after an 11-day blackout.
  • The new agreement is a multi-year contract, meaning ESPN channels should remain available on YouTube TV through the contract period without interruption.
  • YouTube TV's price did not change as a result of the ESPN agreement and remains $72.99 per month for the base package.
  • ABC sports broadcasts owned by ESPN are now included when ESPN holds the rights to major sporting events.

Why ESPN and YouTube TV had a dispute

Carriage disputes happen when a streaming service and a broadcaster cannot agree on the price the service pays to carry the broadcaster's channels. YouTube TV and ESPN disagreed over how much YouTube TV should pay to include ESPN's channels in its package. ESPN, owned by Disney, wanted higher fees; YouTube TV wanted to keep costs down to maintain its subscription price.

These disputes are common in the streaming era. Broadcasters like ESPN own valuable sports content and can demand high fees, while streaming services try to keep monthly costs competitive. The dispute affected viewers because YouTube TV had no legal right to carry ESPN channels once the old contract expired on December 31, 2023.

What channels came back and when

YouTube TV subscribers regained access to four main ESPN channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNEWS. The agreement also grants YouTube TV the right to carry ABC when ESPN owns the broadcast rights—typically for major events like college football playoffs, the College Football National Championship, and select NFL games.

Access was restored on January 12, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Subscribers did not need to take any action; the channels reappeared automatically in their channel lineup once the agreement took effect.

How YouTube TV's price was affected

YouTube TV's base package price remained $72.99 per month after the ESPN agreement. The company did not raise rates specifically because of the new ESPN deal. YouTube TV had already increased its price from $64.99 to $72.99 in July 2023, before the ESPN dispute began.

Some YouTube TV subscribers worried that resolving the dispute would trigger another price increase, but the company did not announce one. Prices can change at any time, and YouTube TV has raised rates multiple times since launching in 2017, but the ESPN agreement itself did not cause a price change.

What happens if disputes like this occur again

Carriage disputes between streaming services and broadcasters will likely continue. YouTube TV has experienced blackouts with other networks in the past, including disputes with Sinclair Broadcast Group and other regional sports networks. When disputes happen, subscribers lose access to those channels until a new agreement is reached.

If you want to protect yourself against future blackouts, keep in mind that no streaming service can may provide uninterrupted access to every channel. Some viewers subscribe to multiple services or maintain cable subscriptions for sports they cannot afford to miss. Others check YouTube TV's status page or social media accounts when they notice channels missing, as the company usually announces disputes and negotiations publicly.

How carriage agreements work in streaming

A carriage agreement is a contract between a streaming service and a broadcaster that sets the price, duration, and terms for carrying channels. YouTube TV negotiates separately with each major broadcaster—ESPN, Fox, NBC, CBS, and others—rather than paying one lump sum for all channels.

These agreements typically last multiple years. The ESPN agreement with YouTube TV is multi-year, meaning the channels should remain available without interruption until the contract expires and negotiations begin again. When a contract is about to expire, both sides either agree to new terms or the broadcaster removes its channels, as happened with ESPN on January 1, 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did YouTube TV's price go up because of the ESPN agreement?

No. YouTube TV's price remained $72.99 per month. The company had raised rates in July 2023, before the ESPN dispute began, but the new ESPN agreement did not trigger an additional increase.

Will ESPN channels stay on YouTube TV now?

Yes, for the duration of the multi-year agreement. Once this contract expires, YouTube TV and ESPN will need to negotiate again, and another dispute is possible. But for now, ESPN channels should remain available without interruption.

What happened to people who watched ESPN during the blackout?

YouTube TV subscribers who lost access to ESPN during the 11-day blackout could watch sports through ESPN's app or website if they had login credentials from another pay-TV provider. Some viewers switched to other streaming services temporarily or used free trial periods to watch games.

Can I watch college football and NFL games on YouTube TV now?

Yes, if ESPN or ABC owns the broadcast rights. The agreement includes ABC when ESPN holds the rights to major sporting events. You can check YouTube TV's channel guide or ESPN's schedule to see which games are available on these channels.

Why do these disputes happen so often?

Broadcasters like ESPN own expensive sports content and want high fees from streaming services. Streaming services want to keep monthly costs low to stay competitive. When they cannot agree on a price, the broadcaster removes its channels until a deal is reached.