YouTube TV customers will get a $20 apology credit for the ongoing blackout of Disney networks — which includes ESPN and ABC channels — if a new pricing deal isn’t reached today (Nov. 9). The platform has become a popular source for live sports fans.
The company’s On-Demand streaming platform has been blocked from such channels since Oct. 30, after Disney and YouTube parent company Google failed to reach an agreement on a new contract before the existing deal had expired. Disney has been negotiating higher contract fees and new pricing models with hundreds of distributors over the last year.
Subscribers have been understandably frustrated by the block, with many saying they will cancel their memberships and move to competitor platforms, such as Disney-owned Hulu + Live TV, unless the two companies come to terms soon. In response, YouTube told customers that they would offer a discount if a deal wasn’t reached. As of Saturday, the media giants are still in heated negotiations, with YouTube TV accusing the entertainment giant of negotiating in bad faith.
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“We know that subscribers are frustrated with the disruption, and we continue to urge Disney to work with us constructively to reach a fair agreement that restores their networks to YouTube TV as soon as possible,” YouTube wrote in a statement.
How to claim your $20 YouTube TV credit
Fortunately, YouTube TV subscribers won’t have to do much to get the $20 credit, which, doing some quick math, is about a quarter of the base monthly subscription fee.
YouTube says it will begin emailing all customers instructions on how to apply a single-time credit to their next billing statement. Emails should go out soon, as the company has promised to issue all credits by Wednesday (Nov. 12). If a deal is signed, service would be restored in a matter of hours, according to the company.
