Disney CFO has grim warning about having ESPN for football this weekend

A deal between Disney and YouTube TV may not be close after all. 

Disney CFO Hugh Johnston joined CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Thursday after the company’s earnings report and indicated that the standoff could go a bit longer than sports fans are hoping, setting up a potential third straight weekend without sports on ABC or ESPN.

“We’re in the middle of negotiations right now,” Johnston said. “Things are live, they’re happening. Obviously, as we entered the year, we knew this was going to be a challenging battle, and we prepared ourselves for it. And we’re ready to go as long as they want to.”

Johnston’s comments came after Disney’s stock plunged more than nine percent as the impasse with Google-owned YouTube TV over carriage fees, which has put a major dent in ABC and ESPN’s ratings, continued. 

The company is reportedly losing $30 million a week during the YouTube TV blackout, which began Oct. 30. 

Earlier this week, The Athletic reported that the companies were getting closer on a deal, but remained at odds over the cost for Disney’s “ancillary non-sports networks,” such as Freeform, FX and National Geographic. 

How to watch ESPN and ABC for free without YouTube TV

There are a few other live TV streaming services offering great deals and channels that YouTube TV customers no longer have access to.

DIRECTV offers a free 5-day trial covering all the affected channels with plans starting at just $49.99/month for your first month. That unlocks NFL, NBA, NHL, and college football across ESPN, ABC, and more, plus regional sports networks in most markets, all for one price.

If you’re not ready to commit to a full subscription and just want to catch a night of sports on ESPN, Sling TV is an excellent alternative due to the unmatched flexibility it offers with plans that include one-day passes. Sling Orange Day Passes are priced at $4.99, and you’ll get 24 hours of access to all Sling TV Orange has to offer, including ESPN and ESPN2.

Since the start of the blackout, more than 10 million YouTube TV subscribers have missed out on two editions of “Monday Night Football” and two weekends of marquee college football matchups. 

Last week, YouTube TV offered a $20 credit to subscribers for the missed content. 

On Monday, FCC chair Brendan Carr tried to urge a stop to the stalemate. 

“Google and Disney need to get a deal done and end this blackout,” Carr posted to his X account. “People should have the right to watch the programming they paid for — including football. Get it done!”