Disney Signs Multi-Year Distribution Partnership With YouTube TV

After a two-week-long blackout, The Walt Disney Company reached a distribution agreement with YouTube TV for streaming Disney’s marquee sports, news, and entertainment channels on the platform. The agreement, announced on Nov. 14, took immediate effect, with Disney networks, including ESPN and ABC, resuming their services on YouTube TV.

Under the multi-year agreement, YouTube TV will gain complete access to Disney’s linear channels, including ESPN, ABC, FX, National Geographic, and ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service at no extra cost to its base subscribers.  The initiative will provide subscribers with the flexibility to stream additional content as a cost-effective alternative to having two different subscriptions. 

ESPN Chairman, Jimmy Pitaro, points out that the initiative realizes the significance of Disney programs, and aims to give fans the freedom and choice “to enjoy the many great programming options.”

Key Provisions Under the Disney-YouTube Agreement

According to the press release, the new agreement will provide more ways to stream Disney’s content. Firstly, all Disney Networks channels and stations are already restored on YouTube TV. 

YouTube TV will now house Disney’s full linear portfolio; all the ESPN networks, ABC, Freeform, the FX Networks, along with the Disney-branded and National Geographic channels. ESPN’s new “Unlimited Plan,” a direct-to-consumer initiative, will be available for YouTube TV subscribers. 

Additionally, the deal empowers YouTube TV to offer genre-specific add-on packages, even integrates Disney+ and  Hulu bundles as select YouTube offerings. 

While enriching YouTube TV’s content library, the deal also puts an end to the blackout that started on Oct. 30 and disrupted major live programming, affecting millions of YouTube TV users.

With the new deal, Disney is also reaffirming its relevance across linear, streaming, and hybrid platforms. According to Alan Bergman, the co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, this new agreement reflects their “continued commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment.”