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Credit: Android Central
What you need to know
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A leaked Disney memo showed the company’s position on YouTube TV negotiations.
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YouTube TV responded with an aggressive statement claiming that Disney leaked the document to the press on purpose.
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Neither side is ready to budge as 21 channels remain dark on YouTube TV.
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YouTube TV often enters into negotiations with legacy media companies to offer a broad selection of traditional cable networks on its live TV service. Google has successfully negotiated public battles with NBCUniversal, Paramount and Fox this year, but the ongoing battle with Disney appears to be different. 21 Disney channels have been unavailable on YouTube TV since October 31 as negotiations continue into their second week.
Both sides have taken to various channels and platforms to advocate for a “fair” deal. The situation escalated on Friday, November 7, when an internal Disney memo written by ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and Disney Entertainment Chairman Dana Walden and Alan Bergman was leaked to the press. Andrew Marchand of The Athletic obtained a document accusing YouTube TV of demanding special treatment:
Instead of competing on a level playing field, Google’s YouTube TV has approached this negotiation as if it were the only player… It goes without saying that so many users value our programs above others because we invest in the best talent, creators and content in the world, and we can’t let anyone undermine our ability to do that.
Disney’s leaked internal memo
YouTube TV responded with a scathing statement saying Disney intentionally leaked the memo to The Athletic.
Disney is once again resorting to their old tactics of leaking documents to the press, negotiating in public with their paid talent, and misrepresenting the facts, including the deals they offered, and taking credit for our product offerings,” YouTube TV told Marchand in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“Our team is committed to a fair deal consistent with their dealings with other distributors, and we encourage Disney to come to the table and do what’s best for our mutual customers.”
The statement also criticized Disney’s use of its on-air talent, including major figures such as Stephen A. Smith, to sway public interest in the company’s favor. McAfee himself, a sports personality with multiple appearances on ESPN, similarly criticized the strategy (via Awful Announcing):
We need each other. A lot of people mean it when they say “greedy corporations.” We need each other, especially where sports are right now. And we’re in the middle of it, so let’s do it. And stop asking me to go to the site. I don’t want to do this so stop it… you’re only making everyone more angry. So let’s just not do it.
Even McAfee
In a leaked internal memo, Disney also expressed an unwillingness to budge on its position on ongoing content negotiations. “YouTube TV continues to demand preferential terms that are below market terms and has made few concessions,” the memo said.
Meanwhile, Google and Disney customers lose out. Businesses are also not doing well. Disney is said to be losing about $5 million. $ per day in YouTube TV subscriber fees while his channels remain dark (via Awful Announcing). YouTube TV is giving subscribers a $10 monthly credit until the Disney channels are available.