YouTube TV subscribers will see an alert at the top of the screen when they sign into the service on Friday morning: “Disney channels are unavailable.”
As of midnight Thursday night, ESPN’s family of networks, ABC, and other Disney-operated channels went dark on the popular live TV streaming service after Google and Disney failed to reach an agreement on a renewed distribution deal.
YouTube TV promised to offer subscribers a $20 credit if the disruption, which comes just a day before Week 10 of the 2025 college football season, lasted for “an extended period of time.” ESPN issued a statement Thursday night, framing Google as “refusing to pay fair rates” for ESPN’s channels. Both sides are said to still be working toward a resolution.
But in the interim, college football fans are in the dark. And SEC fans who use YouTube TV to watch the league on Saturdays are left without any access whatsoever.
Our partners at Sling TV have a solution.
What is Sling TV?
Sling TV is a hub for sports fans to stream their favorite games live. The platform offers ESPN, ABC, and the SEC Network, giving college football fans access to every SEC game each week.
Sling TV also gives its subscribers options for how they access the service. Weekly and monthly packages are available, but for YouTube TV subscribers who might be looking for a backup option in Week 10, Sling TV offers weekend ($9.99) and day passes ($4.99).
Click the link above to sign up for the service.
What is available on YouTube TV?
An email from YouTube TV sent to subscribers on Thursday night said that Disney programming is no longer available on the service.
None of ESPN’s channels display on the live guide. ABC and other Disney channels are also pulled.
YouTube TV also said that recordings from all the affected networks are no longer accessible in users’ libraries, which means past games fans might have recorded to rewatch aren’t available either.
There are 6 college football games across the SEC throughout the day on Saturday. Three of those 6 will be on ABC. Two more will be on SEC Network, and the remaining matchup, between South Carolina and Ole Miss, will take place on ESPN. None of those games will be available.
YouTube TV subscribers will also be unable to access ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday morning.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
