NEW YORK CITY, New York: Disney channels are back on YouTube TV after the two companies reached a new distribution deal on November 14, ending a blackout that stretched for more than two weeks and frustrated millions of subscribers who lost access to major sports, news, and entertainment programming.

"As part of the new deal, Disney's full suite of networks and stations, including ESPN and ABC, has already begun to be restored to YouTube TV subscribers," The Walt Disney Co. said. YouTube TV confirmed that Disney channels would reappear "over the course of the day," apologized for the disruption, and thanked subscribers for their "patience as we negotiated on their behalf."

Disney content vanished from the Google-owned livestreaming service the night of Oct. 30 after the companies failed to renew their licensing agreement. The blackout hit just as college football and professional sports coverage were peaking, leaving some viewers without marquee games and popular channels such as Nat Geo, FX, Freeform, the SEC Network, and the ACC Network.

Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden, and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said they were "pleased that our networks have been restored in time for fans to enjoy the many great programming options this weekend, including college football."

The companies clashed publicly during the dispute. YouTube TV said Disney had proposed terms that would "lead to higher prices for and fewer choices for its subscribers," and accused Disney of using the blackout to bolster its own live-TV products such as Hulu + Live TV and Fubo. Disney countered that YouTube TV had refused to pay fair market rates and accused Google of "using its market dominance to eliminate competition." The company also criticized YouTube TV for pulling content "prior to the midnight expiration" of their contract.

Both sides also sparred over access to Disney-owned news programming in the lead-up to the November 4 U.S. elections.

When the channels returned, YouTube TV said it had "reached an agreement with Disney that preserves the value of our service for our subscribers and future flexibility in our offers." Disney said the deal reflected its "continued commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment and evolving with how audiences choose to watch."

The two-week outage adds to a rising number of carriage disputes in the streaming era, as companies negotiate over rising content costs and the value of live programming. Consumers are often caught in the middle when talks break down.

It was not the first time YouTube TV and Disney hit an impasse. In 2021, subscribers also lost access to Disney channels during contract negotiations, though that blackout lasted less than two days. YouTube TV has had other standoffs as well; Univision has been off the platform since September 30 after an agreement expired, with parent company TelevisaUnivision warning the move would strip "millions of Hispanic viewers of the Spanish-language news, sports, and entertainment they rely on every day."

YouTube TV's base plan costs US$82.99 a month and includes channels from NBC, CBS, Fox, PBS, and others. The company had told subscribers it would offer a $20 credit if its dispute with Disney dragged on for an "extended period of time," and reportedly began allowing customers to claim it on November 9.

Disney distributes its programming through traditional broadcast networks and multiple streaming platforms. ESPN launched its own standalone streamer at $29.99 a month earlier this year, while other Disney content is available on Hulu, Disney+, and Fubo. The company also offers a bundle of ESPN, Hulu, and Disney+ for $35.99 a month, or $29.99 a month for the first year.