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The dust has finally settled on the brief but chaotic contract dispute between Google and Disney. If you missed it (or if you were frantically trying to find a way to watch college football or Monday Night Football this past weekend), the two companies made up late Friday night, restoring access to key channels like ESPN, ABC, and FX on YouTube TV.
But for many users, the damage was already done. During the blackout, a significant number of subscribers jumped ship to competitors like Fubo or the Disney-owned Hulu + Live TV. Now, Google is aggressively trying to win them back.
According to a report from 9to5Google, YouTube TV is sending out emails to select users who cancelled their service during the blackout, offering them an impressive $60 off their first month to return. Here is what we know about the “Win-Back” offer:
- The Deal: A $60 promotional discount on the first month when re-signing up.
- The Eligibility: It appears targeted specifically at users who cancelled during the dispute period, though reports on Reddit suggest it isn’t going out to everyone who left just yet.
- The Context: With the current price of streaming TV, $60 off represents roughly 72% off the monthly bill for that first month back.
A bitter pill for loyal subscribers?
While this is great news for anyone who rage-quit YouTube TV last week and wants to come back, it puts loyal subscribers in a bit of an awkward spot. Those of us who stuck it out through the blackout (and missed their sports or shows) were offered a $20 credit, which pales in comparison to the $60 being thrown at users who left.
It’s a classic carrier move—new or returning customers often get the best perks—but considering that Google’s main competitors in this space (Hulu and Fubo) capitalized heavily on the blackout, it’s not surprising that YouTube TV is pulling out the big guns to reverse the churn. If you cancelled your subscription over the weekend and haven’t signed up elsewhere yet, check your email. There might be a massive discount waiting for you.
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