Disney’s channels are back on YouTube TV. Disney and Google announced a multi-year distribution agreement on November 14, 2025, ending a blackout that began when their previous contract expired on October 30. ESPN, ABC and Disney’s other linear networks returned, while the agreement also introduced ESPN Unlimited access for YouTube TV subscribers at no additional cost under the announced terms.
What happened
The previous Disney–YouTube TV agreement expired on October 30, 2025. Disney-owned channels were removed from YouTube TV after the companies failed to renew their distribution deal. Disney confirmed the contract expiration in its fiscal-year filing.
On October 31, Disney accused Google of refusing to negotiate in good faith and seeking below-market or preferential terms. During the following two weeks, both companies publicly defended their positions as negotiations continued. Disney said its programming and sports rights justified the rates it sought, while YouTube TV’s position focused on controlling price increases and preserving flexibility for subscribers.
Disney executives said on November 13 that the company wanted its networks restored and characterized its offer as equal to or better than terms accepted by larger distributors. That comparison was Disney’s description of the negotiations; the companies did not publish the underlying contracts.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- 720p resolution - View your favorite movies, shows and games in high definition.
- Alexa voice control - The Alexa Voice Remote lets you easily control your entertainment, search across apps, switch inputs, and more using just your voice. Press and hold the voice button and ask Alexa to easily find, launch, and control content, and even switch to cable.
- Access thousands of shows with Fire TV - Watch over 1.5 million streaming movies and TV episodes with access to thousands of channels, apps and Alexa skills, including Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, Apple TV+, Disney+, ESPN+, Sling TV, Paramount+, and other services right from this TV.*
- DTS Virtual-X Sound - An immersive sound format creates a three-dimensional sound experience with your TV’s speakers.
- Supports HDMI ARC - Sends audio directly from the HDMI jack to a compatible soundbar or AV receiver, removing the need for an extra cable.
On November 14, 2025, Disney announced a multi-year agreement with YouTube TV and said restoration of its channels had begun. Coverage reported that the outage lasted nearly two weeks.
Which Disney channels returned?
Disney described the agreement as restoring its full linear network portfolio, including:
- All ESPN networks
- ABC
- Disney-branded channels
- Freeform
- FX Networks
- National Geographic channels
Android Central reported that 21 channels were involved, but Disney’s official announcement used portfolio language rather than publishing a numbered channel-by-channel list. The restoration applies to linear networks; it does not mean every Disney streaming product automatically became part of YouTube TV’s standard plan.
Rank #2
- Bright, clear picture: Bring entertainment to life on our 40" flat screen TV with bright 1080p Full HD—perfect for bedrooms, kitchens, and beyond. Roku Smart Picture cleans up incoming TV signals, optimizes them, and chooses the right picture mode.
- Seamless streaming: With fast Wi-Fi and apps that launch in a snap, Roku Select Series TVs get you to your entertainment quickly. You get excellent picture quality, clear sound, automatic updates, and more. It’s simple to use. Hard to outgrow.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
- A world of free entertainment: Enjoy a huge selection of free live TV, news, sports, movies, shows, and much more—all just a click away.
- More streaming, less searching: With personalized picks right on your Home Screen, quick access to the sports and entertainment you watch most, and fast and easy search in one place—the days of endless scrolling are over.
What else did the agreement change?
ESPN Unlimited access
YouTube TV subscribers received access to ESPN’s new Unlimited Plan at no additional cost under the announced agreement. Selected live and on-demand ESPN programming was also to be available within YouTube TV.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11That wording should not be read as making every ESPN product or every ESPN direct-to-consumer feature free. ESPN’s linear networks, ESPN Unlimited and other ESPN services can have different programming and access rules.
New packaging options
The agreement allows select Disney networks to appear in genre-specific YouTube TV packages. It also allows the Disney+, Hulu Bundle to be included in select YouTube offerings.
Rank #3
- 1080p resolution - View your favorite movies, shows and games in full high definition.
- Alexa voice control - The Alexa Voice Remote lets you easily control your entertainment, search across apps, switch inputs, and more using just your voice. Press and hold the voice button and ask Alexa to easily find, launch, and control content, and even switch to cable.
- Access thousands of shows with Fire TV - Watch over 1.5 million streaming movies and TV episodes with access to thousands of channels, apps and Alexa skills, including Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, Apple TV+, Disney+, ESPN+, Sling TV, Paramount+, and other services right from this TV.*
- DTS Virtual-X Sound - An immersive sound format creates a three-dimensional sound experience with your TV’s speakers.
- Supports HDMI ARC - Sends audio directly from the HDMI jack to a compatible soundbar or AV receiver, removing the need for an extra cable.
“Select” is important: the announcement did not say that Disney+ and Hulu were included with every YouTube TV subscription, or that every package contained the same Disney networks. Subscribers should check the specific plan and offer shown in their account.
What did the blackout mean for viewers?
The dispute removed access to major live sports, ABC programming and other Disney-owned networks during the college-football season. Secondary coverage also highlighted the loss of Monday Night Football and the timing around election-related viewing.
Recommended Free Tools
What is confirmed is that the channels disappeared after the October 30 contract expiration and returned after the November 14 agreement. The public announcements do not establish that every subscriber experienced identical restoration timing, received a credit or had the same treatment of recordings. Any refund or account-specific adjustment should be checked directly with YouTube TV.
Rank #4
- Bright, clear picture: Bring entertainment to life on our 24" flat screen TV with bright 720p HD—perfect for bedrooms, kitchens, and beyond. Roku Smart Picture cleans up incoming TV signals, optimizes them, and chooses the right picture mode.
- Seamless streaming: With fast Wi-Fi and apps that launch in a snap, Roku Select Series TVs get you to your entertainment quickly. You get excellent picture quality, clear sound, automatic updates, and more. It’s simple to use. Hard to outgrow.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
- A world of free entertainment: Enjoy a huge selection of free live TV, news, sports, movies, shows, and much more—all just a click away.
- More streaming, less searching: With personalized picks right on your Home Screen, quick access to the sports and entertainment you watch most, and fast and easy search in one place—the days of endless scrolling are over.
Do subscribers need to do anything?
The providers restored the channels under the new agreement, so the announcement did not require subscribers to start a separate subscription. If a network is still missing, try the following practical checks:
- Restart the YouTube TV app and the streaming device.
- Update the app and refresh the channel guide.
- Search the YouTube TV library for Disney programming that was previously unavailable.
- Check whether the account’s package includes the desired network or bundle.
- For ABC, verify local-market availability and the home area attached to the account.
- If ESPN Unlimited is not visible, confirm account and plan eligibility rather than assuming it is identical to the regular ESPN lineup.
These are troubleshooting suggestions, not a universal YouTube support procedure. Recording-library access and account credits may require individual support review.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What remains undisclosed?
Although the agreement is described as multi-year, Disney and Google did not publicly disclose its precise duration. The reviewed announcements also did not reveal wholesale channel rates, minimum guarantees, financial concessions or the detailed pricing structure behind the settlement.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Best Value
- 4k Ultra HD (2160p resolution): Enjoy breathtaking HDR10 4K movies and TV shows at 4 times the resolution of Full HD, and upscale your current content to Ultra HD-level picture quality.
- High Dynamic Range: Provides a wide range of color details and sharper contrast, from the brightest whites to the deepest blacks.
- All-in-one: Get right to your good stuff. With Fire TV, you can enjoy a world of entertainment from apps like Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max. Plus, stream for free with Fire TV Channels, Pluto TV, Tubi, and more. Access over 1.8 million movies and TV episodes. Subscriptions may be required. Feature and content availability may vary.
- Smart Home: Your smart home hub. Pair Fire TV with compatible smart home devices to see live camera feeds, use AirPlay, control your lighting and thermostat, and more.
- Free Content: Stream for free. Access over 1 million free movies and TV episodes from popular ad-supported streaming apps like Fire TV Channels, Tubi, and Pluto TV. Subscriptions may be required. Feature and content availability may vary.
As a result, the public record confirms that the dispute ended, but it does not show whether Disney or YouTube TV achieved a negotiating “win.” Nor does a multi-year deal guarantee that no future carriage dispute can occur after the agreement’s term.
Should you stay with YouTube TV?
For existing subscribers, the strongest reason to stay is that ESPN, ABC and Disney’s other major networks are again available without maintaining a second live-TV provider. The main qualifications are package eligibility, local ABC availability and the distinction between restored linear channels and separately configured streaming bundles.
People comparing services should check:
- Whether the plan carries the required ESPN networks and local ABC station
- Which sports leagues and postseason events are included
- The regular monthly price after any promotion ends
- DVR storage and recording-expiration rules
- Simultaneous-stream and household-location restrictions
- Whether Disney+, Hulu or ESPN products are included, discounted or separate
- Compatibility with the household’s televisions and streaming devices
YouTube’s February 9, 2026 pricing announcement listed the main YouTube TV plan at $82.99 per month, with examples including Sports at $64.99, Sports + News at $71.99, Entertainment at $54.99, and News + Entertainment + Family at $69.99. Those figures came from that announcement and should be checked at checkout because pricing and eligibility can change.
YouTube TV is the most direct fit for viewers specifically seeking the restored Disney, ESPN and ABC lineup. Disney+, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and Sling TV serve different combinations of entertainment, sports, price and channel needs, so their current lineups should be verified before switching.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
