Where to watch Disney-owned channels blacked out on YouTube TV
Where to watch Disney-owned channels blacked out on YouTube TV
Despite Disney channels being blacked out on YouTube TV, there are plenty of alternatives available depending on what you are looking for.
The day of reckoning has come for Disney and YouTube TV. The two media powerhouses could not come to an agreement on a new carriage deal before the deadline of Thursday, Oct. 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET, so Disney has pulled its channels from the largest live TV streaming service on the market. This leaves more than 10 million estimated customers with no access to channels like ABC, ESPN, the Disney Channel, National Geographic, and many more before a busy college football and NFL weekend and an important Election Day on Tuesday.
If you are frustrated by the two sides’ inability to come to a resolution for the betterment of their customers, then you just might be looking for streaming alternatives, either in the short term or the long term. To that end, The Streamable has put together a list of the top streamers that you can try in order to watch Disney programming.
Where can you watch Disney-owned channels if they are blacked out on YouTube TV?
Which Disney channels have been blacked out on YouTube TV?
There are some key channels that have gone dark on YouTube TV. ABC and ESPN will be a big absence for fans of news, “Monday Night Football,” and the other live sports — especially college football — and entertainment found on those networks. Parents won’t be happy to see channels like Disney Channel or National Geographic go away on YouTube TV, but those networks are at risk as well.
See a list of the channels that may be blacked out on YouTube TV below, and compare them to other streamers which are offering them to get a better idea of your choices. But don’t be intimidated; just keep reading, and we’ll walk you through your options to watch Disney-owned content if it disappears from YouTube TV.
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| ABC | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| ACC Network | + $24 | + $11 | + $61 | - | - | - | + $11 | - | ✓ | |
| Disney Channel | + $0 | + $59 | + $61 | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | + $18 | |
| Disney Junior | + $0 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | + $6 | - | + $18 | |
| Disney XD | + $0 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | + $6 | - | + $18 | |
| ESPN | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
| ESPN2 | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
| ESPN3 | + $24 | + $59 | - | - | - | - | ✓ | - | + $18 | |
| ESPNEWS | + $44 | + $11 | + $61 | - | - | - | + $11 | - | ✓ | |
| ESPNU | + $24 | + $11 | + $61 | - | - | - | + $11 | - | ✓ | |
| FX | + $22 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | + $18 | |
| National Geographic | + $22 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | + $18 | |
| SEC Network | + $24 | + $11 | + $61 | - | - | - | + $11 | - | ✓ | |
Best live TV streaming services for watching all of the Disney channels
DIRECTV
We think that DIRECTV is one of the best options to replace the now-missing Disney programming. You can stream all of the channels in YouTube TV’s base package via various DIRECTV products. Its Signature packages will most closely resemble YouTube TV’s base plan, starting at $90 per month and coming with 90+ channels, including ABC and other local broadcast networks. Signature plans also come with Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited if you choose to receive your package with a Gemini device.
Viewers can also watch select Disney-owned channels in DIRECTV Genre Packs, allowing customers to isolate and pay for only the content they want, without having to shell out $90 to $100 per month for a package full of networks they don’t intend to watch. You can find ABC and ESPN, along with ACC Network and SEC Network, in the MySports package, or get Disney Channel and its siblings in the MyKids plan.
DIRECTV offers a ton of options for watching Disney-owned channels, and at different price points. That’s why we think of it as our top method for watching channels at risk of being blacked out on YouTube TV. Its plans even come with a five-day free trial.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is another great choice for watching Disney content, especially since it is owned by Disney. It carries all of the channels blacked out on YouTube TV, and offers some nice perks as well. Viewers get a three-day free trial with Hulu + Live TV, after which its base package starts at $89 per month.
If you opt to pay just $1 more ($90 per month) for Hulu + Live TV, you get free access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN streaming products with your subscription as well. That will get you on-demand access to the content found on most Disney channels as well, plus a different way to watch live sports from ESPN.
Hulu Live TV
Hulu Live TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 70 channels for $89.99 per month. Hulu + Live TV base plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs). Subscribers get free access to Disney+ and ESPN Select at no extra charge.
Sling TV
Sling TV only carries ABC in a handful of markets, and splits the other channels you can find in YouTube TV’s base plan among different packages and add-ons. So while the service isn’t ideal if you are looking to get all of the Disney programming lost from YouTube TV, it is a great option if you are looking for a short-term alternative that scratches your sports itch.
Via Sling, you can watch ESPN channels (as well as the Disney Channel) on Sling Orange, which is available for as little as $5 per day through Sling’s Passes option. If you just need to get through this weekend, in hopes that YouTube and Disney can resolve their differences by next weekend, you can also opt for the $10 weekend pass or $15 week pass. That will get you ACC Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, and SEC Network, not to mention all of the sports programming found on ABC via ESPN3.
You can also sign up for Sling Orange or Sling Blue for $46 per month and lock in longer-term access. Check out which Disney-owned channels are found in Sling TV add-on packs here.
Sling TV
Sling TV is The Streamable’s choice for cord-cutters on a budget. Sling is a live TV streaming service with multiple channel packages. The $45.99/month Sling Orange plan offers about 30 channels, including Disney Channel and ESPN. The $45.99/month Sling Blue plan offers about 40 channels, including ABC, Fox, and NBC in major markets.
You can combine Orange+Blue for a total of $60.99 / month. Sling also offers many channel add-on packages starting at $6/month.
Fubo
Fubo also comes with all of the channels that have disappeared from YouTube TV, and viewers can get its Pro package with their area’s regional sports network and dozens of other channels starting at $85 per month — before fees. YouTube TV has fewer RSNs than Fubo does, so it’s an especially good choice if you’re an NBA or NHL fan and your team still plays on a regional sports channel.
You can also get a smaller package of just news and sports channels on Fubo starting at $56. This Fubo Sports service comes with a free trial, like other Fubo plans do; the trial can last between one day and seven, depending on several factors, like what time of month you sign up. Since Fubo was just officially acquired by Disney, there is even more crossover than ever.
Fubo
Fubo is a live TV streaming service offering a robust lineup of approximately 150 premier channels, with plans starting at $63.99 per month. This entry-level package provides access to local broadcast affiliates 18 of the leading 35 cable channels channels, and valuable regional sports networks (RSNs).
Which other services can you use to watch Disney programming at risk on YouTube TV?
Disney+
Disney+ has a ton of on-demand content from Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, and National Geographic in its library. The streamer starts at $12 per month by itself, but if you pay just $1 more, you can add Hulu and watch all the content on that streamer, including titles from FX that stream on the general entertainment service the day after they air on linear TV. Disney+ also has sports integrations from ESPN, and if you bundle it with that service, you can watch a ton of live sporting events from the Disney+ app as well.
Disney+
Disney+ is a video streaming service with over 13,000 series and films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, The Muppets, and more. It is available in 61 countries and 21 languages. It is notable for its popular original series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Loki,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and “Andor.”
Hulu
Hulu has next-day streams of primetime programming from ABC and FX, and like Disney+ starts at a cost of $12 per month on its own. Unlike Disney+, if you sign up for Hulu by itself, you can get a 30-day free trial of the service, watch all of its on-demand programming, and still leave yourself open to bundle with other Disney services in the future.
Hulu
Hulu is a video streaming service that gives access to thousands of full seasons of exclusive series, hit movies, kids shows, and Hulu Originals like “Only Murders in the Building,” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
ESPN Unlimited
The new ESPN direct-to-consumer service has two plans available. The ESPN Select plan offers everything formerly found on ESPN+, and costs $13 per month. You can also upgrade to ESPN Unlimited, and watch everything on ESPN, ESPN2, ACC Network, and SEC Network, as well as sports on ABC without being tied to any other cable channels outside the Disney family. ESPN Unlimited costs $30 per month and can also be bundled with other Disney streamers.
ESPN Unlimited
ESPN launched its highly anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming service on August 21, 2025. For the first time, this service gives sports fans access to its full lineup of linear channels without a traditional cable or satellite subscription.