Yes, ESPN is back on YouTube TV.
Disney and YouTube TV resolved their carriage dispute in mid-November 2025 with a new multi-year deal that restored ESPN, ABC, and the rest of Disney’s channels after a roughly two-week blackout. ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service, ESPN Unlimited, is also set to join the YouTube TV base plan at no extra cost by the end of 2026.
If your ESPN channels disappeared in late 2025 and you want to know whether the fight is over, it is. Here is what happened, what you get now, and what to do if the channels still are not showing up.
Is ESPN Back on YouTube TV?
Yes. After a blackout that began on October 30, 2025, Disney and Google reached a new agreement on November 17, 2025, and ESPN, ABC, and the full Disney lineup returned to YouTube TV. The dispute lasted about 15 days, and during it subscribers lost access to ESPN’s networks and their local ABC station. That gap is closed, and the channels are part of the YouTube TV lineup again under the new multi-year contract.
| Channel | Status on YouTube TV |
|---|---|
| ESPN | Restored |
| ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS | Restored |
| SEC Network, ACC Network | Restored |
| ABC (local affiliate) | Restored |
| ESPN Unlimited (direct-to-consumer) | Joining base plan by end of 2026 |
Why Was ESPN Removed From YouTube TV?
It was a carriage dispute, the kind of contract fight that periodically pulls channels off a provider. Disney’s distribution agreement with YouTube TV expired at the end of October 2025 without a renewal, so Disney pulled its networks, including ESPN and ABC, on October 30. These standoffs come down to how much YouTube TV pays Disney to carry its channels and on what terms, and they usually end with a new multi-year deal once both sides agree on pricing.
This one was costly. Disney later said the YouTube TV fight, including the blackout, created a drag of around $110 million on its sports operating income for the quarter, which is part of why both sides had strong incentive to settle.
What You Get Now
The new deal restores the full Disney linear lineup on YouTube TV, from ESPN’s family of networks to ABC, FX, and the Disney-owned entertainment channels. The bigger forward-looking piece is ESPN Unlimited, Disney’s standalone direct-to-consumer streaming service, which is being added to the YouTube TV base plan at no additional cost by the end of 2026. That gives YouTube TV subscribers access to ESPN’s full streaming product on top of the linear channels.
If you are reassessing your live-TV service after the disruption, our guide to watching live TV without cable compares YouTube TV with the alternatives.
What if ESPN Still Is Not Showing Up?
If the channels returned for most people but not for you, a few quick steps usually fix it. Restart the YouTube TV app or your streaming device so it refreshes the channel lineup, confirm you are on a plan that includes ESPN, and check that your local market carries the ABC affiliate. If ESPN is still missing after that, signing out and back in forces the app to reload your channel entitlements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ESPN back on YouTube TV?
Yes. ESPN, ABC, and the rest of Disney’s channels returned to YouTube TV in mid-November 2025 under a new multi-year carriage deal, ending a roughly two-week blackout. The channels are part of the standard lineup again.
Why was ESPN removed from YouTube TV?
Disney pulled ESPN, ABC, and its other networks on October 30, 2025, after its carriage contract with YouTube TV expired without a renewal. It was a pricing and terms dispute, the same type of fight that periodically removes channels from a provider until a new deal is signed.
When did ESPN return to YouTube TV?
ESPN and the Disney lineup returned on November 17, 2025, when Disney and Google reached a new agreement. The blackout had lasted about 15 days from the October 30 removal.
Is ABC back on YouTube TV too?
Yes. ABC was pulled alongside ESPN during the dispute and was restored with the same November 2025 deal. Your local ABC affiliate is available on YouTube TV again in markets where it was carried before.
Will ESPN Unlimited be on YouTube TV?
Yes. As part of the new deal, ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service, ESPN Unlimited, is being added to the YouTube TV base plan at no extra cost by the end of 2026, giving subscribers ESPN’s streaming product alongside the linear channels.
What if I still can’t see ESPN on YouTube TV?
Restart the app or your streaming device to refresh the lineup, confirm your plan includes ESPN, and sign out and back in to reload your channel entitlements. If ESPN is still missing, your local market or plan may differ, so contact YouTube TV support.
How else can I watch ESPN without YouTube TV?
You can watch ESPN through Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or Sling Orange, through the standalone ESPN app and ESPN Unlimited subscription, or with a traditional pay-TV package. Any of these carries the live ESPN channel without YouTube TV.
Last updated: May 2026. We update this guide if the YouTube TV and Disney carriage terms change.