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YouTube TV offers a $20 credit to subscribers affected by the Disney Channel blackout.
The credit must be claimed manually and applies to the next billing cycle only.
Live sports coverage, including NFL and college football, remains unavailable during the Disney dispute.
YouTube TV subscribers are receiving some sort of relief after major channels went dark due to a pricing dispute with Disney. The popular service, which is part of Google LLC, has announced a one-time credit of $20 for eligible customers who were affected by the disruption.
On October 30‑31, 2025, YouTube TV and Disney were unable to agree to renew. Several Disney‑owned networks, including ESPN Inc., ABC Network (local affiliates), FX, and National Geographic, among other Disney assets, were pulled from YouTube TV’s service.
YouTube TV stated that the deal would have increased costs for subscribers, while Disney claims YouTube is declining to pay what it believes are fair rates.
To compensate for the loss of these channels, YouTube TV is offering a $20 credit if the blackout lasts an ‘extended period of time.’
One must be an active YouTube TV subscriber with the base plan (or eligible plan) for the month during which the blackout happened.
You may not be eligible if your subscription was paused or canceled before you claimed the credit.
The credit is described as a one-time credit; it is not applied automatically on a monthly basis.
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Here are the clear steps to redeem your credit.
Access YouTube TV: Go to the YouTube TV website in a web browser and sign in, as full menus may not be available via mobile apps.
Sign In: Click your profile picture in the top right corner.
Navigate to Settings: Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
Find the Updates Section: In the Settings app, locate the Updates section-often labeled ‘Updates’ or ‘Service updates.’
Locate the Disney Credit Notice: In the Updates, locate ‘Disney Content’ or similar wording that describes the blackout and the credit offer.
Claim Your $20 Credit: Click the blue button labeled ‘Claim Credit.’ Confirm it.
Note: The credit will be applied to your next billing cycle. It will not reduce your current month’s bill.
This credit is not automatically applied to most users; you must claim it manually. You might be ineligible for this credit if you unsubscribe or cancel before the next billing cycle.
The credit is only a partial compensation: considering YouTube TV's base rate and the number of channels removed, users feel the $20 is modest.
The outage affects live sports coverage, including the NFL and college football, via ESPN and local ABC affiliates, which is a major inconvenience.
A dispute over carriage rights is becoming increasingly common between streaming distributors and content owners, highlighting the changing dynamics of costs and rights in the television industry.
This dispute also reflects the unique dynamics of legacy media, Disney, and the digital platform YouTube (owned by Google), in negotiating licensing terms and controlling the ecosystem.
Users will now have to pay closer attention to changes in the terms of service and updates to plans, taking action promptly when compensation is offered.
1. How can I claim the $20 YouTube TV credit?
Log in to YouTube TV through a web browser, access Settings > Updates, find the notice for the Disney credit, and press the ‘Claim Credit’ button.
2. Who is eligible to receive the $20 YouTube TV credit?
The active subscribers with the standard plan or eligible plans who experienced the Disney blackout are the ones who will receive the credit. Paused or canceled accounts before claiming may not qualify.
3. When will the $20 credit reflect on my account?
Your account will be credited with $20 in the next billing cycle. It will not decrease the charges for the present month.
4. Will the credit cover all the channels and sports that were lost?
Not at all. The $20 credit is just a portion of the compensation. Channels like ESPN, ABC, and FX, as well as live sports coverage, will still be unavailable.
5. What will happen if I unsubscribe before claiming the credit?
If you terminate your YouTube TV subscription before the credit is claimed, you may lose your right to the $20 credit. You will need to claim manually.
