ABC, Disney, and ESPN may be going dark on YouTube TV if a new deal isn't reached with Google.
The current contract is set to expire on December 17 but Google and the TV stations have not yet been able to come to a new agreement.
Are the TV stations officially leaving YouTube TV?
Google has not officially announced that their agreement with Disney, is coming to an end as they are currently still negotiating a new contract.
Disney is hopeful that an agreement can be reached prior to the expiration of their current contract with Google, which owns YouTube TV.
ABC, ESPN, Freeform, and FX are owned by the Disney conglomerate and can currently be streamed on YouTube TV.
This news comes after Google and Roku reached an agreement to continue working together last week.
However, if a deal with ABC, Disney, and ESPN isn't reached by 11.59pm on December 17, the stations will be removed from the streaming platform indefinitely.
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Why can't Disney and Google come to an agreement?
Google is reportedly facing difficulties receiving an agreeable rate to continue streaming Disney's stations on their platform.
In a statement released on December 14, YouTube TV said, "Our ask to Disney, as with all our partners, is to treat YouTube TV like any other TV provider – by offering us the same rates that services of a similar size pay, across Disney's channels for as long as we carry them."
Disney told USA Today they are "optimistic" that an agreement can be reached before the December 17 deadline.
In a statement released on December 13, Disney said, "Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution has a highly successful track record of negotiating such agreements with providers of all types and sizes across the country and is committed to working with Google to reach a fair, market-based agreement.
“We are optimistic that we can reach a deal and continue to provide their YouTube TV customers with our live sporting events and news coverage plus kids, family, and general entertainment programming.”
How will YouTube TV make up for the lost channels if an agreement isn't reached?
YouTube TV announced they will decrease the subscription cost by $15 if the Disney-owned stations "go dark" on December 17.
The streaming service says the decision is meant to compensate subscribers for the missing programs. Subscribers currently pay $64.99 per month for YouTube TV.
If an agreement isn't reached, YouTube TV subscribers will lose access to 25 channels, 17 live networks, and eight local ABC stations.
The streaming service advised anyone who will miss the stations, should an agreement not pull through, to subscribe to Disney Plus for $13.99 per month.
In a blog post on Monday, YouTube TV said, "If Disney offers us equitable terms, we’ll renew our agreement with them.”
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