YouTube TV Subscribers Can Get a $20 Credit During the Disney Blackout. Here’s How to Claim Yours

ABC, ESPN and other Disney-owned networks have been unavailable on YouTube TV since Oct. 30 after contract negotiations between the companies stalled. The dispute has left viewers without access to major entertainment and sports programming.

As a result, subscribers have already missed two weeks of Monday Night Football — which airs on ABC and ESPN — along with multiple live episodes of Dancing with the Stars.

To help offset the impact, YouTube TV started rolling out a $20 credit on Nov. 9 for affected customers.

Below is the latest on the situation, including how to get the credit and what is known about channel restoration.

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What caused the YouTube TV blackout?

Disney-owned channels such as ABC, ESPN, FX, National Geographic and others went dark after the companies failed to reach a renewal agreement. The negotiation reportedly centers around pricing and how programming bundles are offered to subscribers.

According to Deadline, Disney is losing “about $4.3 million a day” in revenue due to the interruption — a result of no longer receiving affiliate fees from YouTube TV for its content, including Monday Night Football and Dancing with the Stars.

Subscribers are also frustrated. As reported by Variety, 24% of surveyed users said they have already canceled or intend to cancel their subscription due to the outage.

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What has YouTube TV said?

On Oct. 30, YouTube TV issued a statement accusing Disney of using the blackout as leverage to push for deal terms that would “raise prices on our customers,” while steering viewers toward other services such as Hulu + Live TV.

The service has steadily become more expensive over time. When YouTube TV launched in 2017, it cost $35 per month. The price increased to $50 in 2019, then to $72.99 in 2023, and most recently to $82.99 in January 2025, per CBS News.

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How to claim the $20 YouTube TV credit

YouTube TV promised a credit if the channels were down “for an extended period,” and that offer is now active for subscribers.

Here’s how to apply the $20 credit to an eligible account:

1. Go to tv.youtube.com
2. Select your profile and navigate to Settings
3. Click Updates
4. Under Disney Credit, select Claim Credit
5. A confirmation message will appear indicating that the credit will apply to your next bill

If your billing is managed through another provider (like Google Play), the credit should appear automatically.

According to Variety, this credit is a one-time offer regardless of how long the blackout lasts.

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When will ABC and ESPN return?

There is currently no confirmed date for when Disney-owned channels will be restored on YouTube TV, but negotiations are still active.

Disney CEO Bob Iger told Variety that the latest offer matches agreements the company has already reached with even larger distributors, adding that efforts continue “tirelessly” to close the deal quickly so viewers regain access to their content.

During a Nov. 13 appearance on CNBC, Disney CFO Hugh Johnston reiterated that discussions remain ongoing and progress is being made, per The Hollywood Reporter.

If a resolution is reached, Disney channels could return to the platform “in a matter of hours,” according to Variety.