The ongoing battle between YouTube TV and ESPN shows no signs of ending soon, but subscribers will be receiving some compensation amid the dispute. On Sunday, YouTube TV informed its subscribers that they would be issued a $20 credit due to the ongoing standoff between the streaming service and the Disney-owned sports network.
“We’ve been working in good faith to negotiate a deal with Disney that pays them fairly for their content and returns their programming to YouTube TV,” YouTube TV said in an email to subscribers, as reported by Pro Football Talk. “We know it’s been disappointing to lose Disney content, and we want you to know we deeply appreciate your patience. In light of the disruption, we’re offering our subscribers a $20 credit. Over the next few days, you will receive a follow-up email with instructions on how to redeem your $20 credit for YouTube TV. Once redeemed, this will be applied to your next bill.”
Unfortunately, the email did not indicate any imminent resolution, especially with “Monday Night Football” featuring the Eagles and Packers scheduled for Week 10. NFL and college football fans may face another week without access to games if the dispute continues.
YouTube TV had previously warned customers that if the outage persisted, it would issue a credit to subscribers. Last week brought little optimism either, as The Athletic reported the two parties remain “far apart” on the price YouTube TV is willing to pay per subscriber to Disney.
An internal memo viewed by The Athletic offered insight into Disney executives’ perspective on the negotiations.
### How to Watch ESPN and ABC for Free Without YouTube TV
For those looking to watch ESPN and ABC amid the blackout, several alternative live TV streaming services offer access to these channels:
– **DIRECTV** offers a free 5-day trial covering all affected channels, with plans starting at $49.99 for the first month. This package includes NFL, NBA, NHL, and college football across ESPN, ABC, and more, plus regional sports networks in most markets—all for one price.
– **Sling TV** is an excellent choice for those wanting more flexibility. Sling Orange Day Passes cost $4.99 and provide 24 hours of access to all Sling TV Orange channels, including ESPN and ESPN2. This is a great option if you’re not ready to commit to a full subscription and just want to catch a night of sports.
### Disney’s Position on the Negotiations
In a memo signed by Disney Entertainment co-chairmen Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, along with ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, the company expressed frustration:
“Rather than compete on a level playing field, Google’s YouTube TV has approached these negotiations as if it were the only player in the game,” the memo stated.
“It goes without saying that the reason so many consumers value our programming above others is because we invest in the best talent, creators, and content in the world, and we cannot allow anyone to undercut our ability to do so,” the memo continued.
### YouTube TV Responds
In response to The Athletic, YouTube TV criticized Disney’s tactics, saying, “Disney is resorting to their old tactics like leaking documents to the press, negotiating in public through their paid talent, and misrepresenting the facts— including details about the deals they’ve offered and taking credit for our product proposals.”
As the stalemate continues, subscribers are left waiting—and now, being compensated—for what may be an extended blackout of ESPN content on YouTube TV.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/10/sports/youtube-tv-customers-set-to-get-20-credit-as-disney-battle-set-to-spill-into-mnf/