Disney is losing over $4 million daily from the YouTube TV blackout
The Disney–YouTube TV standoff is testing subscriber patience and loyalty across the U.S.
If you’ve tried tuning into ESPN or ABC on YouTube TV lately and got nothing, you’re not alone, and it’s not your Wi-Fi acting up. Disney and Google (yep, the parent company of YouTube TV) are in the middle of a pretty expensive disagreement that’s left more than 20 Disney-owned channels dark.
At its core, the issue is about money and a lot of it. Disney and Google couldn’t agree on new terms for distributing Disney’s channels on YouTube TV, and since their deal expired on October 30th, the blackout has been going strong. According to Morgan Stanley, Disney is losing about $4.3 million every single day, or roughly $30 million a week, in missed revenue.
Both companies are blaming each other, of course.
Emmanuel Umahi
On Google’s side, Disney is seen as being too demanding, and agreeing to its terms would mean raising prices for YouTube TV subscribers; whereas on Disney’s side, Google simply doesn’t want to pay fair value for Disney’s premium content.
Meanwhile, viewers are caught in the crossfire. Sports fans can’t watch their games, and regular subscribers are getting restless. Google’s been offering $20 credits as a peace offering, but it might not be enough. A recent survey found that almost a quarter of YouTube TV subscribers have already canceled or plan to cancel their accounts because of the blackout.
The good news, though, is that analysts think the feud might wrap up soon, possibly by the end of the week. But until then, both Disney and Google are bleeding money and testing customer patience.
The takeaway
Streaming wars aren’t just about who has the best shows anymore; they’re now about who controls the price tag that brings those shows to your screen. This Disney–YouTube TV standoff is a reminder that when giants clash, it’s the viewers who end up paying the price (or losing their channels).
Emmanuel Umahi
