Disney and YouTube strike deal to bring TV channels back to streaming platform

Disney and YouTube announced a deal Friday night to end a blackout that removed ABC, ESPN and other channels from the YouTube TV streaming platform.

The agreement ends a standoff in which Disney pulled programming from YouTube TV in late October.

Disney said the deal is a “multi-year distribution agreement” with YouTube TV.

“It recognizes the tremendous value of Disney’s programming and provides YouTube TV subscribers with more flexibility and choice,” Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a news release.

“We are pleased that our networks have been restored in time for fans to enjoy the many great programming options this weekend, including college football,” they said in the statement.

Customers should see an almost immediate impact. Disney said Friday evening that the channels “have already begun to be restored to YouTube TV subscribers.”

The new deal allows Disney+ and Hulu Bundle content to be shared on YouTube TV, Disney said.

YouTube, owned by Google company Alphabet, said on Oct. 30 that Disney had pulled channels from the streaming service amid the impasse in talks, which Disney had threatened to do.

YouTube said last month that Disney was using the threat of a blackout as a negotiating tactic that would have resulted in higher prices for its subscribers. It also said then that a blackout could potentially benefit Disney’s own streaming products Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.

Before the deal was reached, Disney had said that YouTube TV was refusing to pay fair rates for its channel.

A spokesperson for YouTube said the company is pleased an agreement has been reached. Customers should see channels return, as well as recordings in their library, within 24 hours, the company said.

“We apologize for the disruption and appreciate our subscribers’ patience as we negotiated on their behalf,” the YouTube spokesperson said.

Last month, YouTube said it would give subscribers a $20 credit if Disney content was unavailable “for an extended period of time.” YouTube TV’s base subscription plan costs $82.99 per month.

YouTube is the largest internet TV provider in the U.S. with more than 9 million subscribers. Hulu, owned by Disney, is next, with about half that many subscribers.