Here’s how to watch football despite Disney-YouTube TV blackout
Here’s how to watch football despite Disney-YouTube TV blackout
If you don’t want to miss another weekend of sports on Disney-owned channels, here are your alternatives to watch games on ABC and ESPN.
We are now heading into the third weekend of the carriage dispute between Disney and Google. That means that for the third week in a row, football fans who subscribe to YouTube TV will have to look elsewhere to find all of the college football and NFL games that they want to watch on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, the SEC Network, and the ACC Network, not to mention all of the programming on other Disney-owned channels like the Disney Channel, Freeform, National Geographic, History, and more.
Since Disney's channels went dark on the largest live TV streaming service on the market back on Halloween, YouTube TV has declined to restore ABC for election night coverage and it seems like things are getting contentious on both sides of this stalemate, despite the CEOs of both impacted companies getting involved. YouTube has begun offering $20 credits to customers in order to compensate for the lack of a resolution, but both Disney and Google are feeling the financial impacts of the prolonged blackout.
While there was some optimism that a resolution could be coming earlier this week, since then, things have seemingly only gotten more contentious between the sides, meaning that we could be in for an even longer wait for the channels to be restored.
So, in the meantime, customers remain caught in the middle as Disney and YouTube TV feud, and with another weekend of college football and NBA action, not to mention a “Monday Night Football” game, unavailable through the pricey streamer they are paying for. So, viewers might well be thinking it’s time to move on from YouTube TV. If that’s the case, check below to see the best alternatives for streaming Disney-owned channels like ABC and ESPN all weekend long.
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What are the best ways to watch ABC, ESPN, other than YouTube TV?
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of YouTube TV’s closest competitors, and it offers a great selection of packages that carry Disney-owned channels. You can watch ABC and ESPN in any of DIRECTV’s Signature channel plans, which start with the ENTERTAINMENT package. This plan comes with 90+ total channels, and starts at just $50 per month with a limited-time discount on your first month of service. Plus, you can try it out for 5 days, free.
You can also watch ABC and ESPN in the MySports Genre Pack from DIRECTV, which costs a mere $70 per month and is also discounted by $10 for a new customer’s first month. This plan comes with 20+ sports-related channels, including all programming you’re at risk of missing on YouTube TV this weekend.
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.
Sling TV
If you only want a temporary replacement for YouTube TV this weekend, you can grab weekend-long access to Sling TV’s Orange plan for only $10. This will get you access today through Monday, and once the weekend is over, your subscription ends with no auto-renewal. You can watch ESPN on Sling Orange, as well as ESPN3, which simulcasts live sporting events on ABC. Alternatively, you can sign up for Sling Orange at the monthly price of $46 and leave your YouTube TV woes behind for good.
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.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV has ESPN channels and ABC, plus a three-day free trial for all new customers. Its base plan with the Disney Bundle included at no extra cost normally runs $90 per month, but for a limited time, new customers can sign up for the service at a price of just $65 per month for their first three months. This discount has been extended through Nov. 18, so grab it now and catch all the programming you’d miss on YouTube TV for a good price.
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.
Fubo
Fubo has several options that include ABC and ESPN. Its Fubo Sports service includes sports and news channels only, but costs $56 per month. The Fubo Pro plan also has these channels included, along with regional sports networks and a large package of news networks and entertainment channels. It starts at $85 per month, but regional sports network fees will lift that price higher for most. Fubo comes with a free trial of between one and seven days.
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).
ESPN Unlimited
ESPN is now available on a direct-to-consumer basis via the ESPN Unlimited streaming service. This costs $30 per month, and allows you to watch all live programming on ESPN, ESPN2, ACC Network, SEC Network, and sports on ABC. You can bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu for a limited time at no additional cost, and lock in that price for the next 12 months.
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.

