In a massive disruption for millions of streaming households, Disney has pulled its entire slate of channels—including ABC, ESPN, FX, and National Geographic—from YouTube TV after contract negotiations collapsed Thursday night. The blackout affects General Hospital on ABC and much more for more than 9 million subscribers, marking one of the largest carriage disputes in years and raising questions about how long consumers will remain caught in the middle of billion-dollar streaming wars.
Key Takeaways
- Disney pulled ABC, ESPN, FX, and more from YouTube TV after talks fell apart.
- The blackout affects 9 million subscribers and could disrupt major sports broadcasts.
- ABC’s General Hospital is among the programming viewers can’t currently stream.
- Disney and YouTube TV each blame the other for “unfair” terms in a high-stakes standoff.
9 Million Viewers Lose Access Overnight
YouTube TV confirmed in a late-night post that Disney had followed through on its threat to remove its networks, including ABC, ESPN, and FX. The timing couldn’t be worse for sports fans—or for daytime viewers hoping to catch GH through their streaming service. College football, NBA, and NHL games, along with daily soaps and primetime hits, all disappeared from the platform within hours.
“YouTube TV subscribers rely on these channels for key sports and entertainment coverage,” the company said. To offset frustration, it’s offering subscribers a $20 monthly credit if the blackout continues, temporarily lowering its $82.99 base plan to $62.99.
Disney Defends Its Move
Disney countered that YouTube TV—owned by Google—refused to pay fair rates. “With a $3 trillion market cap, Google is using its dominance to undercut industry-standard terms,” the company said, claiming it remains “committed to reaching a resolution quickly.”
Behind the scenes, the move also serves Disney’s own streaming interests: its Hulu + Live TV and Fubo services still carry the affected networks. That means viewers desperate for GH or Saturday’s college games might shift to Disney-owned platforms—at least temporarily.
Streaming’s Next Showdown
This standoff underscores an ongoing industry tug-of-war. As major studios and tech giants compete for market share, audiences are increasingly left in limbo—paying more for fewer options. Whether ABC and YouTube TV can strike a new deal soon will determine how long millions of viewers remain cut off from beloved shows like General Hospital and marquee sporting events.
How Viewers Can Still Watch Their Shows
While Disney and YouTube TV remain at a standoff, fans aren’t completely out of options. General Hospital and other ABC programs are still available through several alternate sources.
Those who bundle services can access GH through Hulu + Live TV, which includes ABC along with Disney+ and ESPN+. It’s a pricier package, but it guarantees uninterrupted access to ABC’s daytime and primetime programming.
For fans who prefer not to switch streaming services, ABC remains free over the air in most areas. A simple digital antenna can pull in local stations, meaning viewers can still tune in to GH at its usual time if they’re within broadcast range of their ABC affiliate.
Episodes are also available on ABC.com and the ABC app, but full access requires signing in with a participating TV provider that currently carries ABC. Because YouTube TV no longer does, subscribers affected by the blackout will only be able to stream select free episodes until a new agreement is reached.
Until Disney and YouTube TV strike a deal, viewers may have to rely on these backup options—or brace for more disruptions in the ongoing streaming wars. Also, don’t forget to sign up for Soap Hub‘s newsletters to stay up to date on the latest GH happenings.
