Disney wants to get back on YouTube TV in the name of public service.
In the media conglomerate’s latest attempt to generate support for its content following a blackout on the Google-owned TV service, Disney has proposed that YouTube TV put its ABC back on the air on Nov. 4, when the nation heads to the polls for Election Day.
“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.”
Google didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. [Update: Google rejected Disney’s proposal and instead suggested that the media conglomerate allow YouTube TV to restore ABC and ESPN — “the channels that people want” — while their negotiations continue.]
ABC News‘ coverage will likely be available via non-traditional means, including the live-streamed channel ABC News Live. Over the weekend, Disney’s ESPN made its popular “College GameDay” show available via the X social-media platform, and put the show on the ESPN mobile app without requiring a subscription to a cable, satellite or video service.
Disney’s networks have been blacked out on YouTube TV since last week. YouTube TV removed Disney’s networks late on October 30, after the two sides could not come to terms on a renewal that would keep ABC, ESPN and other Disney properties on the internet TV service. The main sticking point is price — Disney is asking for rate hikes that Google isn’t willing to agree to. At the same time, Google has been trying to push TV companies to accept new tiers of programming that could result in some subscribers opting to drop receiving certain networks.
YouTube TV has said that if Disney’s channels remain unavailable for “an extended period of time,” it will offer subscribers a one-time $20 credit. YouTube TV’s base subscription plan costs $82.99 per month.
Disney is the latest in a series of media companies to square off with Google over YouTube TV in recent months. Others that have fought with the company include Paramount Global (now Paramount Skydance), Fox Corp. and NBCUniversal. Each of those reached a new deal without a blackout albeit some did so with some frenzied moments as deadlines loomed. YouTube TV dropped Univision and other TelevisaUnivision-owned networks at the end of September after the two sides could not reach a new agreement — and those outlets remain sidelined from the Google service.