ABC & ESPN go dark for thousands of NC TV customers. Details on dispute
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- YouTube TV and Disney failed to renew a distribution deal, removing ABC and ESPN.
- YouTube TV says costs would increase for subscribers; Disney asks for a “fair rate.”
- Subscribers will get a $20 credit if the blackout persists, YouTube TV said.
Tonight, some Tar Heel fans won’t be able to watch UNC take on Syracuse from the comfort of their couch. True crime fans won’t be able to see tonight’s “20/20” episode on the Murdaugh murders. Audiences across North Carolina won’t be able to tune into their local ABC affiliates for the evening news.
It’s all because of a dispute over a distribution agreement.
YouTube TV and The Walt Disney Co. did not make a new deal before the agreement expired at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30. The live TV service had asked the owner of channels such as ABC, FX, National Geographic and ESPN for a better rate for programming.
But with no deal reached, YouTube TV customers woke up this morning to those channels missing from the directory and “playback error” messages if they tried to tune in to Disney-owned channels.
Disney’s terms would raise prices for YouTube TV customers, the live TV service wrote on its blog Thursday evening.
“Our current agreement with Disney has approached its renewal date, and we will not agree to terms that disadvantage our members while benefiting Disney’s own live TV products,” YouTube TV wrote in an email sent to customers minutes after the 11:59 p.m. deadline.
From Disney’s perspective, YouTube TV’s parent company, Google, is “exploiting its position at the expense of their own customers,” a Disney spokesperson said in a statement shared with The News & Observer on Tuesday, Oct. 28.
“We invest significantly in our content and expect our partners to pay fair rates that recognize that value,” Disney said.
YouTube TV told customers it is continuing to work with Disney to reach an agreement, but will give subscribers a $20 credit if the programs remain unavailable “for an extended period of time.”
The standard monthly price of a YouTube TV Base Plan is $82.99. The service is currently offering new subscribers a $10 monthly discount for their first three months.
How YouTube TV customers can watch lost channels
Some North Carolina YouTube TV subscribers may be able to get ABC for free using a digital antenna. Viewers can check which channels may be available at their home at fcc.gov.
New DirecTV customers can sign up for a five-day free trial to watch Disney-owned networks, but they will be charged the monthly rate if the subscription is not canceled.
This story was originally published October 31, 2025 at 11:34 AM with the headline "ABC & ESPN go dark for thousands of NC TV customers. Details on dispute."
