College Football Fans Rejoice: YouTube TV and Disney Resolve Carriage Agreement Dispute Just in Time for Week 3
College football fans can now breathe a sigh of relief as YouTube TV and Disney have resolved their carriage agreement dispute just in time for Week 3 of the college football season. The agreement allows the estimated 10 million subscribers to access ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned networks once again. The pricing struggle between the two companies led to YouTube TV offering a $20 credit to its subscribers due to the blackout that occurred during the heart of football season.
Negotiations between Google, YouTube's parent company, and Disney intensified over the past week, ultimately resulting in an agreement being reached on Friday. The primary sticking point in the negotiations was the price for ABC, as Disney bundles all its channels together in negotiations. While the deal has been settled for now, the possibility of YouTube TV carrying only ESPN remains uncertain.
For those who do not have a YouTube TV subscription, there are alternative ways to watch this weekend's local college football games. Streaming options include the Unlimited plan on the new ESPN app, Fubo, and Sling Orange, which offer free trials for new subscribers. Fans can catch matchups like South Florida vs. Navy, Miami vs. NC State, Florida vs. Ole Miss, Florida State vs. Virginia Tech, Florida Atlantic vs. Tulane, and Florida International vs. Liberty through these streaming services.
With the carriage agreement dispute resolved, college football fans can once again enjoy watching their favorite teams compete in Week 3 of the season. Whether through YouTube TV or alternative streaming options, fans have access to a variety of games to follow their teams' progress.