Disney Asks YouTube TV To Restore ABC For Election Day
With Disney and YouTube TV both digging in their heels, it does not look like the blackout of Disney-owned stations will end anytime soon.
To this point, much attention has been paid to live sporting events that YouTube TV customers are missing out on, including tonight’s Monday Night Football matchup.
Photo: Variety
However, with Election Day just around the corner, ABC is now at the center of the standoff.
Disney’s Proposal
As the United States prepares to head to the polls tomorrow, Disney has proposed that YouTube TV restore ABC for election coverage.
Photo: ABC
“Despite the impasse that led to the current blackout, we have asked YouTube TV to restore ABC for Election Day so subscribers have access to the information they rely on,” Disney said in a statement.
“We believe in putting the public interest first and hope YouTube TV will take this small step for their customers while we continue to work toward a fair agreement.”
Walt Disney Company
For their part, YouTube has yet to comment.
History Repeats Itself
Disney’s latest proposal echoes one it made during its carriage standoff with DirecTV last year.
Deadline
For those who may not remember, the blackout occurred during ABC’s broadcast of a debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
Citing the event’s historic importance, Disney offered to broadcast the debate to DirecTV customers for free.
“As we announced in May, the ABC News presidential debate will be widely available across broadcast, cable and streaming,” Disney said in a statement. “Although we have yet to reach an agreement [with DirecTV], we are providing a three-hour feed of ABC News coverage to all impacted DirecTV customers at no cost because we want all Americans to be able to view tonight’s debate at this important moment in our history.”
Photo: DirecTV
DirecTV rebuffed the overture.
A Deal Is Unlikely
While YouTube TV has yet to respond to Disney’s latest offer, it is unlikely that the television provider will accept it.
Photo: YouTube
Instead, subscribers will likely have to turn to another station for their Election Day coverage.
Alternatively, ABC News’ broadcast will be available on Disney+’s ABC News Live.
Photo: Disney, World News Tonight anchor David Muir and ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis
As the blackout of Disney-owned channels on YouTube TV continues, pressure will mount on both sides to reach a deal.
For now, however, neither party appears to be budging.
