YouTube TV Lost ABC & ESPN — What Happened and How to Watch Football Tonight
Reading Time: 4 minutes TL;DR Summary: Disney channels—including ABC and ESPN—were removed from YouTube TV when their carriage agreement expired late Oct 30, 2025 (ET). That means no Monday Night Football or ABC/ESPN college football via YTTV until there’s a new deal. Quick fixes: the new ESPN standalone app (includes ESPN networks and ESPN-on-ABC sports), CUE (lists ABC and ESPN), an antenna for local ABC, or switching to another live-TV streamer.
On this page:
- What Happened and When?
- What Programming is Impacted Now?
- Fast Ways to Watch ABC/ESPN Tonight
- Why I Recommend CUE for a Simple Bundle
- Step-by-Step: Be Watching in ~10 Minutes
- FAQ
- Glossary
What Happened and When…
- Google’s carriage deal with Disney expired at 11:59 PM ET on Oct 30, 2025. More than 20 Disney-owned networks—including ABC, ESPN, Nat Geo, FX, and others—were pulled from YouTube TV overnight.
- YouTube TV says Disney demanded higher rates that would raise prices; Disney says YouTube TV refused to pay fair market value. The standoff continues.
- Scale: industry reporting pegs YouTube TV’s base at roughly ~10 million subscribers; analysts estimate Disney is losing about $30M per week during the blackout.
- YouTube TV began offering a $20 bill credit (not automatic for everyone) while the dispute persists.
What Programming is Impacted Right Now?
- NFL Monday Night Football (ESPN/ABC) and college football carried on ABC/ESPN are unavailable on YouTube TV during the blackout.
- ABC primetime, ESPN studio shows, NBA/NHL on ESPN, and related shoulder programming also disappear from YouTube TV.
- Important: reports indicate DVR recordings of Disney content are not accessible during the blackout, though access may return if a deal is reached.
Fast Ways to Watch ABC/ESPN Tonight
1. ESPN (standalone app) — fastest single-channel fix
Disney launched a new ESPN direct-to-consumer service. ESPN Unlimited (standalone) is $29.99/mo or $299.99/yr and includes all ESPN networks plus ESPN-on-ABC sports. There’s also an ESPN Select tier with a lower price but fewer live networks.
Good for: MNF and ESPN games tonight without switching your entire TV bundle.
2. Recommended CUE — simple all-in-one bundle with ABC & ESPN listed
CUE publicly lists ABC and ESPN in its channel lineup and markets “nationwide local channels” with a broad device footprint. If you want a straight bundle replacement, this is the cleanest path without juggling apps. Start CUE here.
Availability notes: locals can vary by market and rights arrangements—verify your area during signup.
3. Antenna — free local ABC
If you mainly need the ABC broadcast game, an indoor antenna often works with zero ongoing cost. Check your address on a local-signal lookup and you’re set the moment you scan channels.
4. Other live-TV streamers (vMVPDs)
Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM, and Fubo currently carry ABC/ESPN. If you prefer big-bundle incumbents, those are solid backups.
Why I Recommend CUE for a “Keep-it-Simple” Bundle
- ABC & ESPN listed: CUE’s public channel list includes ABC and ESPN (plus TNT/TBS, etc.).
- No contracts: Straightforward monthly price; you can set it up in minutes.
- Device flexibility: Apps across major platforms (including Roku, per store listing).
Step-by-step: Be Watching ABC in ~10 minutes
Path A: ESPN app (if you only need ESPN/MNF/ESPN-on-ABC)
- Go to ESPN and choose your plan (Select or Unlimited). [oai_citation:15‡ESPN Plus](https://plus.espn.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- Install the ESPN app on your TV/phone.
- Sign in and open the Live tab.
- Find ESPN or the game labeled ABC/ESPN and press play.
Path B: CUE (bundle replacement)
- Sign up here: tonyherman.com/cue-signup.
- Install the CUE app or open the web player.
- Sign in, search for ABC or ESPN.
- Start the game; add to favorites for next time.
Tip: run a quick speed test—15–25 Mbps per stream is a safe target for HD.
FAQs About ABC Football on YouTube TV
Why is ABC/ESPN missing from YouTube TV?
The distribution contract with Disney expired on Oct 30, 2025 (ET), so YouTube TV removed Disney networks until a new deal is signed. [oai_citation:16‡The Verge](https://www.theverge.com/news/817403/youtube-tv-disney-espn-blackout-updates?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
When will ABC/ESPN return?
Neither side has announced a date. These stalemates can resolve quickly or drag on; analysts estimate Disney is losing ~$30M/week, which adds pressure. [oai_citation:17‡newsweek.com](https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/disney-suffers-30-million-plus-loss-amid-espn-youtube-tv-dispute-11031145?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Can I watch Monday Night Football without YouTube TV?
Yes—via the new ESPN service, CUE (lists ABC & ESPN), an antenna for ABC, or another vMVPD. [oai_citation:18‡AP News](https://apnews.com/article/ec2b43ab06a2e1a874894486c8102434?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Is YouTube TV giving credits?
Some customers can claim a $20 bill credit during the blackout; it’s not automatic for everyone. [oai_citation:19‡Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-tv-bill-credit-catch-rebate-disney-espn-tv-blackout-2025-11?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Does CUE definitely have my local ABC?
CUE lists ABC nationally; local availability can vary. Verify during signup; if your exact affiliate isn’t available, use an antenna to guarantee local ABC. [oai_citation:20‡cuebroadcast.com](https://cuebroadcast.com/Top-Channels.html)
Glossary of Terms Used on This Page
- Blackout: When a channel is unavailable due to rights/carriage issues.
- Carriage agreement: A contract that lets a distributor (YouTube TV) carry a programmer’s networks (Disney/ESPN/ABC).
- vMVPD: “Virtual” cable via internet (e.g., YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, CUE, Fubo).
- ESPN Select vs. Unlimited: ESPN’s new DTC tiers; Unlimited includes all ESPN linear networks and ESPN-on-ABC sports.
