YouTube TV, ESPN ‘far apart’ in concerning update on contract dispute

It doesn’t seem as if the contract dispute between YouTube TV and ESPN/Disney is getting resolved anytime soon.

The two sides “remain far apart on price,” Cardinals upset the Cowboys.

Google, which operates YouTube TV, wants to pay closer to what Charter/Spectrum and Comcast do, per SBJ, which noted the streamer doesn’t have the number of subscribers as the cable companies.

Whenever a deal is struck, YouTube TV subscribers will get access to the ESPN Unlimited tier on the network’s revamped app, the report says.

Should the dispute linger, fans subscribed to YouTube TV would lose out on a big “Monday Night Football” matchup next week as the Eagles visit the Packers.

“Despite our best efforts, we have not been able to reach a fair deal, and starting today, Disney programming will not be available on YouTube TV. This means you will no longer be able to watch channels like ABC and ESPN or access recordings from these networks in your Library,” YouTube TV wrote in an X post late Thursday, before Disney’s networks were pulled from the platform Friday.

ESPN has an appetizing Wednesday NBA doubleheader that YouTube TV customers are set to miss: Knicks vs. Timberwolves and Lakers vs. Spurs.

For Week 11 of college football on Saturday, ABC will have undefeated No. 8 BYU vs. No. 9 Texas Tech at noon, No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 19 Missouri at 3:30 p.m. and No. 4 Alabama vs. LSU at 7:30 p.m.

ESPN will air No. 5 Georgia vs. Mississippi State at noon, No. 18 Miami vs. Syracuse at 3:30 p.m. and No. 12 Virginia vs. Wake Forest at 7 p.m.

How to watch ESPN and ABC for free without YouTube TV

There are a few other live TV streaming services offering great deals and channels that YouTube TV customers no longer have access to.

DIRECTV offers a free 5-day trial covering all the affected channels with plans starting at just $49.99/month for your first month. That unlocks NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, college football and March Madness across ESPN, FOX Sports, TNT, TBS, plus local networks in most markets, all for one price.

If you’re not ready to commit to a full subscription and just want to catch a night of sports on ESPN, Sling TV is an excellent alternative due to the unmatched flexibility it offers with plans that include one-day passes. Sling Orange Day Passes are priced at $4.99, and you’ll get 24 hours of access to all Sling TV Orange has to offer, including ESPN and ESPN2.