YouTube TV subscribers in the US have lost access to major Disney-owned networks, including ESPN, ABC, FX, National Geographic and the Disney Channel, after Google and Disney failed to reach a new carriage agreement before their October 30 deadline.

YouTube has accused Disney of using “the threat of a blackout as leverage” to push for higher rates, saying such terms would have forced price hikes on consumers.

“Disney’s decision directly harms our subscribers while benefitting its own services like Hulu + Live TV and Fubo,” YouTube said in a blog post.

Disney hit back, claiming YouTube TV “refused to pay fair rates” for its portfolio of channels and was using its market dominance to “undercut industry-standard terms” agreed to by other pay-TV providers.

The company said it remained committed to reaching a resolution “as quickly as possible.”

The dispute leaves YouTube TV, the largest internet-based pay-TV service in the US with around 9 million subscribers, without access to key live sports and entertainment content, including college football, NBA, NFL and NHL broadcasts.

In a move to placate customers, YouTube has offered a US$20 credit if Disney channels remain offline for an extended period.

This isn’t the first time the two giants have clashed.

A similar blackout in 2021 lasted less than 24 hours before a deal was struck.

The current impasse comes at a time of major change in the streaming landscape.

Disney has just completed its merger of Hulu + Live TV with Fubo, creating a combined six-million-subscriber platform, which could be a potential rival to YouTube TV’s dominance.

Negotiations between Disney and Google are reportedly ongoing, with a deal still yet to be reached.