Disney and YouTube announced an agreement Friday night to end a blackout that would exclude ABC, ESPN and other channels from the YouTube TV streaming platform.
The agreement ends a standoff in which Disney removed the show from YouTube TV in late October.
Disney said the deal is a “multi-year distribution agreement” with YouTube TV.
“We recognize the tremendous value of Disney programming and offer more flexibility and choice for YouTube TV subscribers,” Disney Entertainment co-chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a news release.
“We are pleased that the network has been restored in time for fans to enjoy many great programming options this weekend, including college football,” they said in a statement.
Customers should see results almost immediately. Disney announced Friday night that the channel “has already begun to be restored to YouTube TV subscribers.”
Disney says the new deal will allow content from Disney+ and Hulu bundles to be shared on YouTube TV.
YouTube, owned by Google’s Alphabet Inc., announced on October 30 that it had pulled its channel from the streaming service, which Disney had threatened, after negotiations reached an impasse.
YouTube said last month that Disney was using the threat of power outages as a negotiating tactic, resulting in higher rates for subscribers. The company also said the outage could benefit Disney’s own streaming products, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.
Before reaching the agreement, Disney said YouTube TV was refusing to pay the channel a fair fee.
A YouTube spokesperson said the company is pleased to have reached an agreement. The company says customers should expect their channels back and recordings back in their libraries within 24 hours.
“We apologize for the confusion and appreciate the patience of our subscribers as we negotiated on their behalf,” a YouTube spokesperson said.
YouTube announced last month that it would give subscribers a $20 credit if Disney content was unavailable for an “extended period.” YouTube TV’s basic subscription plan costs $82.99 per month.
YouTube is the largest Internet TV provider in the United States with more than 9 million subscribers. Next up is Disney-owned Hulu, which has about half that number of subscribers.
The Associated Press contributed.
