YouTube TV subs won’t have to go another weekend without their favorite Disney content, with the two agreeing to a new deal Friday, 15 days after the programming went dark. Channels, including ESPN and ABC, were already being restored Friday evening.

The two touted that the new agreement offers new ways to access Disney content, including making the new ESPN direct-to-consumer offering available at no cost to YouTube TV subscribers and putting a selection of live and on-demand programming from ESPN Unlimited inside YouTube TV.  To be clear, that is not ingestion into the YouTube Premium environment. Disney has used similar language in other recent deals, so that some content subs are entitled to is easier to watch.

While there was noise that YouTube was balking at carrying some of the linear networks, such as Freeform and Nat Geo, the deal includes access to the full Disney linear portfolio. Select networks will be available in genre-specific packages, and YouTube has the ability to include the Disney+, Hulu Bundle in select offerings.

“This new agreement reflects our continued commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment and evolving with how audiences choose to watch,’’ Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a joint statement. “It recognizes the tremendous value of Disney’s programming and provides YouTube TV subscribers with more flexibility and choice. We are pleased that our networks have been restored in time for fans to enjoy the many great programming options this weekend, including college football.”

 

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Friday–November 14

Ringing In 35 Years: NCTA’s Bell Looks Back at Events that Shaped Cable

Last week, NCTA SVP, Creative Services Mark Bell clocked in for the final time after 35 years with the association. That role made him a critical strategist for NCTA’s former trade shows and its current live events, including the just-wrapped reimagined Kaitz Event. Before he headed off into retirement and Kristin Buch stepped into his role, Cablefax chatted with Bell about his time in the industry.

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