A week into the blackout of Disney-owned channels on YouTube TV, subscriber frustration is mounting. Disney networks including ESPN and ABC went dark on 30 October after Google and Disney failed to reach a new carriage agreement. The dispute centres on pricing, with Google accusing Disney of demanding an unprecedented fee increase, while Disney says Google refuses to pay fair rates.
A survey of 1,100 US consumers by Drive Research found that 24% of YouTube TV subscribers have already cancelled or intend to cancel their subscription because the service no longer delivers core content. Another 30% have subscribed or plan to subscribe to ESPN Unlimited or Hulu + Live TV to retain access to sports, while 22% are using someone else's login and 15% have considered illegal streams.
If the blackout continues, churn could spike: 82% of respondents said they are likely to cancel if the dispute is not resolved soon. However, a YouTube spokesperson told Variety the company's own data shows churn has been manageable and does not align with the survey findings. YouTube has promised a $20 credit to subscribers if the blackout lasts an extended period, but only 30% of those surveyed said that would prevent cancellation.
Most YouTube TV subscribers (56%) signed up primarily for live sports, followed by channel lineup (43%) and access to ABC (33%). The survey also found that 58% blame both Disney and Google equally for the standoff, while 37% fault Disney and 5% blame Google. YouTube TV has an estimated 10 million subscribers, making it the largest virtual pay-TV provider in the US.
