YouTube TV currently does not have ESPN during the ongoing Disney–YouTube TV contract dispute, but this situation is evolving as negotiations continue. Here’s where things stand and what it means for you.
What’s happening
- ESPN (and other Disney-owned channels like ABC) have been dark on YouTube TV due to a carriage dispute between YouTube TV (Google) and Disney. This has affected live sports and other Disney programming on the platform during the outage window.
- News coverage indicates Disney has sought restoration of ABC/ESPN for critical events (e.g., election coverage), while YouTube TV has proposed restoring channels under terms that address public-interest needs. The situation remained unresolved on multiple reports, with updates occurring as recent as the dates cited.
What this means for watching ESPN on YouTube TV
- If you rely on YouTube TV for ESPN/ABC content, you may not be able to watch live ESPN channels and ABC programming on that platform until a new carriage agreement is reached. Check the latest official statements from YouTube TV and Disney for the current status and any temporary alternatives.
- Temporary workarounds that are commonly used during such outages include:
- Using ESPN’s own streaming options if you already subscribe (e.g., ESPN+ does not carry the ESPN/ABC linear channels, so verify what you have).
* Viewing through other live-TV services that still carry ESPN/ABC (such as Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, etc.), depending on their current agreements.
* Accessing ESPN/ABC content via authorized networks or apps provided by your internet or pay-TV provider, if they offer authenticated streaming of Disney networks.
What to do next
- Confirm the current status with your YouTube TV app or account page, as contract disputes can update quickly.
- If you need regular ESPN/ABC access, consider temporary alternatives or a different provider that carries ESPN/ABC while the dispute is unresolved.
If you’d like, I can pull the latest, up-to-the-minute status from reliable sources and tailor recommendations for your specific sports and programming needs.
