Disney Is Not Ready to Give Up Controversial Stalemate With Massive Service

Disney executives are prepared to fight for a long-term resolution in their current dispute with YouTube TV. Disney’s CFO, Hugh Johnston, recently stated the company has no intention of conceding any ground in negotiations with the streaming service.

The executive confirmed during a Thursday morning interview on CNBC that negotiations are currently underway with the Google-owned platform. He stated that they had anticipated a difficult situation and were well-prepared for it, adding that they are ready to continue discussions for as long as necessary.

Despite being optimistic about his company, Johnston wouldn’t reveal the exact problems that were stopping them from reaching an agreement with YouTube TV.

I won’t be discussing the details of the negotiations right now, as it’s an ongoing process,” he stated, adding that both companies are working through their respective priorities. “Each side has its own requests.” According to the New York Times, the two companies are still debating how much YouTube should compensate Disney for channels like FX and National Geographic, excluding live sports.

Johnston clarified that YouTube TV didn’t have a strong advantage in the negotiations, especially considering how crucial ESPN is for sports fans, particularly during football season.

YouTube users are missing out on important content, especially live sports during the season. This gives us some negotiating power, as viewers could easily find these games on other platforms.

These remarks from Johnston follow the removal of Disney channels from YouTube TV on October 30th. While Disney leaders Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, and Jimmy Pitaro stated they had proposed customized programming options—designed for sports, entertainment, and families—that would benefit YouTube TV customers with more choices and value, YouTube TV, owned by Google, disagreed with Disney’s account of the dispute, as outlined in a recent message to employees.

YouTube TV has been trying to reach a fair agreement with Disney regarding payments for their shows and movies on our service. In a recent blog post, we explained that Disney is asking for terms that would likely increase prices for our customers and limit what they can watch. These terms would also benefit Disney’s competing live TV services.

Disney Boss Highlighted Willingness to Close the Deal

Disney CEO Bob Iger recently stated that keeping uninterrupted service for their customers is their top priority, and they are working quickly to reach an agreement to ensure that happens.

Iger emphasized that their proposed deal is as good as, or better than, agreements Disney has already made with other major distributors, and that it fairly represents the value Disney provides. However, they haven’t yet come to an agreement.

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2025-11-13 19:19