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Google's pay TV platform said in a blog post late Thursday that
Disney had followed through on a threat to suspend its content
amid the negotiations.
The breakdown could impact coverage of some college football
games on Saturday, as well as NBA, NFL and NHL games.
YouTube is the largest internet TV provider in the U.S. with
more than 9 million subscribers. Hulu, owned by Disney, is next,
with about half that many subscribers.
Viewers have become aware of the dispute in recent weeks because
of warnings being scrolled across their screens.
YouTube said Disney used the threat of a blackout as a
negotiating tactic that would have resulted in higher prices for
its subscribers. Disney's move to take down its content also
benefits its own streaming products Hulu + Live TV and Fubo,
YouTube said.
“We know this is a frustrating and disappointing outcome for our
subscribers and we continue to urge Disney to work with us
constructively to reach a fair agreement that restores their
networks to YouTube TV,” it said.
YouTube said it would give subscribers a $20 credit if Disney
content unavailable “for an extended period of time.” YouTube
TV’s base subscription plan costs $82.99 per month.
Disney said that YouTube TV is refusing to pay fair rates for
its channels and has chosen to “deny their subscribers the
content they value most," pointing out the number of Top 25
teams playing this weekend.
“With a $3 trillion market cap, Google is using its market
dominance to eliminate competition and undercut the
industry-standard terms we’ve successfully negotiated with every
other distributor," Disney said. The company said that it was
committed to reaching a resolution as quickly as possible.
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