If you’re a YouTube TV subscriber who’s been staring at a blank screen where ESPN and ABC used to be, we’ve got some bittersweet news. Google’s finally putting its money where its mouth is – and by that, we mean they’re actually issuing credits to make up for this Disney debacle.
The Deal
YouTube TV is issuing $20 credits to users affected by the Disney blackout. The first round of refunds started going out on November 9th, with all eligible subscribers receiving them by November 12th.
How to claim your credit
If you were a YouTube TV customer when the channels went dark on October 30th, you should have received an email with specific instructions on how to apply this one-time $20 credit to your next billing statement. Here are the steps involved:
- Log in to your YouTube TV account on a web browser (this won’t work on the mobile app)
- Click on your profile picture and select Settings
- In the left menu, select Updates
- Look for the credit offer and click Claim Credit
- You’ll see a confirmation that the $20 will be applied to your next billing statement
If you haven’t received an email and you were subscribed during the blackout period, contact YouTube TV support directly.
The backstory
Since late October, YouTube TV customers have been locked out of watching ESPN, ABC local stations, and basically every other Disney-owned channel because Google and Disney are having what amounts to a corporate staring contest over money.
Disney says they’ve offered Google ‘fair terms’ that are in line with what other distributors pay and accuses them of bad-faith negotiating. Google says that Disney is demanding rates that are way above market and accuses Disney of leaking documents and playing dirty. Neither side is blinking.
Both sides claim they’re fighting for your benefit. Spoiler alert: they’re really fighting for their profit margins.
Meanwhile, users are paying $82.99 a month for a service that’s suddenly missing some of its biggest draws. No Monday Night Football. No Saturday morning ABC lineup. No Disney Channel for the kids. You get the picture.
Should you stay or cancel?
According to reports, about 24% of YouTube TV subscribers have already canceled or plan to because of this blackout. That $20 credit doesn’t go far when you’re missing the channels you actually signed up for — especially if you’re a sports fan.
The choice is simple: if you watch primarily Disney content, the credit is barely a band-aid. If you’re fine without those channels, it’s free money.
Big companies like Google and Disney will eventually work this out. They always do. The question is whether you want to stick around and play the waiting game while collecting modest credits, or if you’d rather take your $82.99 a month elsewhere.
Either way, make sure you claim that credit if you’re owed one. It’s not much, but it’s something. And in this streaming landscape where prices keep climbing and channels keep disappearing, we’ll take whatever wins we can get.
Here’s hoping these corporate giants figure things out before the next big game.
Source: Variety