Finally, some hope: YouTube TV and Disney find ‘fresh momentum’ in talks to end the blackout

After two agonizing weeks of darkness for sports fans, we finally have a potential light at the end of the tunnel. According to a new report from The Athletic, YouTube TV and Disney have found “fresh momentum” in their negotiations to bring ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned channels back to the streaming service.

This news comes just days after YouTube TV began issuing $20 credits to frustrated subscribers, a move that most feared signaled a long-term stalemate. However, it seems the urgency has ramped up significantly behind the scenes.

The heavy hitters are now involved

Perhaps the most promising sign that a deal is actually close is the new level of executive involvement. Sources briefed on the talks indicate that Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Disney CEO Bob Iger have become more personally involved in the negotiations. When the bosses at the very top step in, it usually means there is serious pressure to get a deal done quickly.

Another potential catalyst? Disney has its quarterly earnings call scheduled for this Thursday morning. Having a resolved carriage deal to announce (stopping the reported $4 million-per-day bleeding) would be a major plus for Disney’s leadership.

The sticking point: it’s not about sports

So, what’s still holding things up? According to the report, the main obstacle remains the price of Disney’s non-sports networks, such as Freeform, FX, and National Geographic.

Disney notoriously negotiates these deals as a massive bundle, forcing distributors to pay for its entire suite of channels. YouTube TV, however, has reportedly shown “little interest” in paying a premium for this “ancillary” programming that fewer people are watching, especially as much of that content moves to Disney+ anyway. They want ESPN and ABC, but they don’t want to overpay for the rest of the bundle.

A weird twist

The report also highlights a fascinating bit of corporate drama: Justin Connolly, YouTube TV’s global head of media and sports, has been forced to recuse himself from these specific negotiations. Connolly left Disney for YouTube TV earlier this year (a move that resulted in lawsuits), and a ruling has forced him to sit out these talks, leaving others to handle the dealmaking.

While nothing is signed yet, the “fresh momentum” and CEO involvement are the best news we’ve heard since the blackout began on October 30th. With the Disney earnings call looming on Thursday, we might finally be on the verge of getting our channels back. Fingers are crossed for sure!