YouTube TV, Disney agree to deal to bring ESPN back to streaming platform and end stalemate

The weeks-long streaming stalemate between YouTube TV and Disney is finally over, with the two sides reaching a deal Friday evening.

With the deal now in place, Disney-owned channels like ESPN and ABC, among others, are now restored on YouTube TV.

“As part of the new deal, Disney’s full suite of networks and stations — including ESPN and ABC — have already begun to be restored to YouTube TV subscribers,” ESPN’s PR team said in a statement Friday.

This new deal is also expected to give YouTube TV subscribers access to ESPN’s newly released direct-to-consumer app alongside the $80-per-month service, The Athletic reported.

YouTube TV’s 10 million subscribers have been without ESPN’s college football and “Monday Night Football” games since Oct. 30.

The deal came just a day after Disney CFO Hugh Johnston had some rather pessimistic comments on the negotiations.

“We’re in the middle of negotiations right now,” Johnston said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Thursday. “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.”

According to The Athletic, Disney had a quarterly earnings call with Wall Street analysts on Thursday that acted as a de facto deadline for the negotiations.

Last week, YouTube TV offered its subscribers a $20 credit as customers were unable to watch college football and “MNF” for a second week.

“Google and Disney need to get a deal done and end this blackout,” FCC Chair Brendan Carr posted to his X account on Monday.

“People should have the right to watch the programming they paid for — including football. Get it done!”