**Google and Disney’s Feud Leads to YouTube TV Missing Monday Night Football and Potential Loss of ABC Election Day Coverage**
The ongoing dispute between Google and Disney over content rights for YouTube TV has already impacted consumers significantly. On Monday, November 3, subscribers were unable to watch Monday Night Football on ESPN. Now, the standoff threatens to leave YouTube TV users without ABC’s Election Day coverage on November 4 as well.
**Disney Requests One-Day ABC Restoration for Election Day**
In light of Election Day, Disney has requested that YouTube TV restore access to ABC—one of the four major news networks—for a single day. The request aims to ensure the public can watch essential Election Day reporting despite the ongoing negotiation impasse.
**YouTube TV Denies Disney’s Request**
YouTube TV has publicly denied Disney’s proposal and, in a statement shared with both the public and Disney leadership, presented a counteroffer. Google argues that reinstating ABC for just one day would “cause customer confusion,” since the channel would disappear immediately after the day ends.
Instead, Google proposes that Disney allow YouTube TV to offer both ABC and ESPN indefinitely while mutual negotiations continue. According to Google, it could restore these channels “in hours” if Disney agrees to the terms—allowing Election Day coverage to resume without disruption.
**Google’s Perspective on Available Election Coverage**
Google also highlighted that election news is widely accessible through other broadcast stations and news networks available on YouTube TV, as well as through the main YouTube platform free of charge. Their statement noted that:
*”On the last two U.S. election days, the vast majority of tuned-in YouTube TV subscribers chose not to watch ABC.”*
Furthermore, Google pointed out that ABC itself could livestream its Election Day coverage for free on YouTube as an alternative.
**Disney Emphasizes Public Interest**
In response, a Disney spokesperson told Deadline that despite the ongoing blackout, the company is prioritizing public interest by asking YouTube TV to restore ABC for Election Day. The statement read:
*”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. 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.”*
**What Happens Next?**
The situation remains unresolved as both sides stick to their positions. If Disney agrees to Google’s proposal, YouTube TV could restore ABC and ESPN promptly, ensuring subscribers don’t miss crucial coverage. However, if the companies fail to reach a temporary or long-term agreement, YouTube TV users may continue to experience blackouts of major events, including election coverage.
Stay tuned for updates as this dispute unfolds and impacts access to popular broadcast content on YouTube TV.
https://www.androidcentral.com/streaming-tv/youtube-tv-is-ready-to-bring-back-abc-and-espn-but-theres-a-catch
