YouTube TV has turned down Disney’s request to bring back ABC for Election Day. They argue it’s not in the public’s best interest while they negotiate a new carriage deal.
In a recent blog post, YouTube TV acknowledged the importance of catering to customer needs. They said, “Customers don’t want blackouts or fighting,” but adding ABC for just one day would confuse viewers when they lose it again shortly after.
The blackout began when Disney channels, including ABC and ESPN, went offline due to failed negotiations. Many sports fans felt the impact, missing out on college football games and a highly anticipated matchup featuring the Dallas Cowboys.
Despite the blackout, viewers can still access some ABC content. The blog highlighted that ABC News has around 19.1 million subscribers on YouTube, where news is streamed live. Viewers can also find ABC News Live on Hulu around the clock without being part of a pay-TV package.
YouTube TV pointed out that election news is available from various other broadcasters. Interestingly, during past elections, most of their subscribers chose not to watch ABC.
Disney has reached out to YouTube TV, emphasizing the importance of public access to news during such critical times. They hope to encourage YouTube to consider their request as they continue negotiations.
YouTube TV, which began its journey in 2017, now boasts 10 million subscribers, having become a leading pay-TV service. This growth has led to various negotiations with major networks. While some companies have reached agreements quickly, others, like TelevisaUnivision, have seen prolonged disputes.
Disney, as a strategy, sometimes risks blackouts to balance its traditional TV viewership with its streaming services. They previously faced significant blackouts with major providers like Charter and DirecTV, including a notable outage during a presidential debate, highlighting the tension between traditional broadcasts and modern streaming demands.
With many viewers turning to online platforms for news, broadcast networks face challenges in holding on to their traditional audience. Disney has started placing more content, like ABC World News Tonight, on Hulu to adapt to changing viewer habits.
For more on the current state of media negotiations and their impact on viewers, you can visit The Hollywood Reporter.
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