Disney Asks YouTube TV to Restore ABC for Election Day Coverage

Disney is calling on YouTube TV to temporarily bring back ABC for Election Day coverage, even as their contract dispute remains unresolved. ABC and other Disney-owned networks, including ESPN, went dark on YouTube TV last Thursday after the two sides failed to agree on new carriage terms.

In a statement, Disney said, “Despite the impasse that led to the current blackout, we have asked YouTube TV to restore ABC for Election Day so subscribers have access to the information they rely on. We believe in putting the public interest first and hope YouTube TV will take this small step for their customers while we continue to work toward a fair agreement.”

YouTube TV has not responded publicly to the request.

The blackout has already disrupted college football, and Monday Night Football featuring the Dallas Cowboys is at risk of being the next casualty.

YouTube TV, which launched in 2017, now serves 10 million subscribers and has faced multiple disputes with major media companies. While networks from NBCUniversal, Fox, and Paramount were saved from blackouts through agreements, Univision’s networks have been unavailable since late September.

While ABC News is available on other platforms like Hulu, many voters still rely on local ABC affiliates for live election night coverage, which will take place on November 4, 2025 across the country.