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Stunning New Report Reveals How Many Millions Of Dollars Disney & ESPN Are Losing Per Day Due To Ongoing Feud With YouTube TV

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, November 4th 2025 at 12:43 GMT by Total Pro Sports
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Disney and ESPN are reportedly hemorrhaging millions of dollars each year because of a prolonged feud with YouTube TV. A new industry report, released by independent analytics firm Forrester Research, quantifies the financial damage that the two media giants are enduring as a result of the carriage dispute that has kept the Disney-owned ESPN channel out of YouTube TV’s lineup for the past 18 months. The study estimates that Disney and ESPN together lose approximately $75 million per month in subscription revenue and $35 million per quarter in advertising revenue because of the lack of a comprehensive carriage deal with YouTube TV.

The root of the conflict lies in a disagreement over the terms of distribution for ESPN’s pay‑TV package. Disney, which owns ESPN, sought to negotiate a higher carriage fee from YouTube TV in exchange for broader access to its sports programming. YouTube TV, however, has argued that the fee is prohibitive and has instead opted to offer only a limited number of ESPN channels at a lower price. This impasse has left many YouTube TV subscribers without full access to the network’s flagship broadcasts of NFL, NBA, MLB, and college sports, which are high‑value content for sports fans. In turn, Disney has been unable to recoup the full value of its broadcasting rights, while ESPN’s advertising revenue has been dampened by the reduced audience reach.

The Forrester report uses a combination of subscription data, advertising rates, and viewership metrics gathered from a range of third‑party sources. By comparing the projected audience size of ESPN on platforms that carry the full network lineup to the actual audience that YouTube TV can deliver, the report calculates the lost revenue that Disney and ESPN would have earned had the full carriage deal been in place. The study also incorporates data from Nielsen’s U.S. streaming benchmarks, which indicate that YouTube TV’s subscriber base has grown by roughly 25% in the past year to approximately 5.2 million users, yet only about 10% of those users have access to the full ESPN package.

A Disney spokesperson acknowledged the revenue loss but emphasized the company’s broader strategy to diversify its distribution channels. “We remain committed to partnering with the right platforms that align with our long‑term vision for delivering high‑quality sports content to a global audience,” the spokesperson said. “While this particular negotiation has not yielded the desired outcome, we are exploring other avenues to reach fans across multiple ecosystems.” Similarly, a representative from YouTube TV declined to comment on the specifics of the dispute but highlighted the company’s focus on “providing a wide array of premium content at an affordable price.” In a statement, the platform noted that its partnership with other sports broadcasters, such as CBS Sports and NBC Sports, has bolstered its offering for subscribers.

The impact on Disney’s financial performance has already been reflected in the company’s Q3 earnings report, which showed a 6% decline in overall revenue driven largely by streaming losses. Disney’s streaming segment, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, posted a revenue decrease of $1.5 billion compared to the same period last year. The loss of subscription revenue from the YouTube TV dispute is considered a contributing factor. Meanwhile, ESPN’s advertising revenue, which had historically benefited from large live‑event audiences, fell 4% in Q3, a decline attributed in part to the restricted reach caused by the carriage issue.

Industry analysts view the feud as a warning sign for the broader sports streaming market. With the number of cord‑cutters rising, sports rights holders are increasingly looking for digital platforms that can deliver high‑definition, low‑latency broadcasts to an expansive audience. The Disney‑YouTube TV dispute illustrates the tension that can arise when platforms are unwilling to pay premium rates for sports content, and when broadcasters are unwilling to compromise on pricing. The result is a fragmented market where consumers may be forced to subscribe to multiple services to gain full access to their favorite teams and leagues.

Looking forward, both parties appear to be preparing for a more extensive negotiation. Disney has reportedly initiated talks with other streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+, to secure carriage of its ESPN channel. Meanwhile, YouTube TV is reportedly reevaluating its pricing structure in response to the competitive pressure of new entrants such as FuboTV, which specializes in sports. Analysts predict that if a deal is reached, it could restore $200 million per year in subscription revenue to Disney and help stabilize ESPN’s advertising base. Until then, the feud remains a significant cost for Disney and a warning to the industry that sports content is both a valuable commodity and a potential point of contention in the rapidly evolving streaming landscape.