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Disney, YouTube in talks to restore ABC, ESPN

Disney+ announces price hike

Disney said Friday that it is still in discussions with Google’s YouTube TV to restore access to ABC and ESPN after the channels were removed from the pay-TV platform.

Recall, YouTube TV on Monday, offered to reinstate ABC and ESPN following Disney’s request to make ABC available for Election Day coverage.

“YouTube TV continues to insist on receiving preferential terms that are below market and has made few concessions,” Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a memo on Friday to employees, according to Reuters.

Disney said it had offered fair terms consistent with agreements reached with other distributors since last summer, according to an internal memo.

YouTube TV did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

As one of the largest pay-TV distributors in the United States, YouTube TV has been engaged in multiple negotiations this year with media companies threatening to withdraw their channels from the platform.

Disney’s networks went dark on YouTube TV late last Thursday after both sides failed to reach a new licensing agreement, the companies said in separate statements.