In the sports media world, there is no bigger story than that of YouTube TV dropping all Disney-owned platforms off of their streaming service amid a contract dispute. The two sides seem to be at an impasse over whether the platforms will appear on the service in the future.
Prediction market Kalshi has odds posted for dates when Disney's contract could be renewed, with dates later on the calendar leading the way.
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YouTube TV/Disney Contract Dispute Odds, Predictions
Odds are via Kalshi and update every hour.
YouTube TV/Disney Contract Dispute Background
What happened?
In late October, YouTube TV dropped ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned channels from its offerings, citing a contract dispute with Disney over how much money the company should be paid for allowing its content to be streamed.
The standoff has been occurring for several weeks now, with neither side budging on what they're willing to pay to, or accept from, the other side. In the meantime, YouTube TV subscribers have been told they'll receive $20 credits to offset the significant loss of content.
ESPN and ABC carry a plethora of primetime sporting events, such as NFL Monday Night Football, nationally televised NBA and NHL games, as well as college football and basketball from multiple popular conferences. YouTube TV subscribers are left without access to these games until the two sides resolve their dispute.
Where are the two sides at now?
A November 12 article written by The Athletic's Andrew Marchand indicates that the two sides have re-engaged in talks to bring ESPN, but not necessarily Disney's non-sports networks, back to the platform.
According to Marchand, one of the big holdups is YouTube TV's concern over those non-sports offerings that are watched by less people. Because Disney negotiates deals for all of its networks as a bundle, YouTube TV has been hesitant to commit truckloads of cash for content that is less popular and will drive fewer viewers to its service.
Marchand also reports that the CEOs of Google and Disney have gotten involved in the negotiations, hinting that progress may begin to pick up. Still, there is no indication that the sides are close to a deal as of this writing. But it seems that YouTube TV yearns for Disney's live sports content, which is likely one of the biggest attractions for its customer base.
