College football fans are now in Week 2 of a coverage blackout. The ongoing fight between YouTube TV and Disney has left millions without ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned networks.
This standoff started on October 30. It’s hit sports lovers hard, especially with the college football season in full swing.
Big games involving Florida State, Miami, and Florida are happening now. Fans are scrambling for ways to watch.
The YouTube TV and Disney Dispute: A Breakdown
The drama began when YouTube TV’s carriage contract with Disney expired on October 30. Google, which owns YouTube TV, wanted to pay rates similar to what Disney gets from cable companies like Comcast and Charter.
Disney, on the other hand, accused Google of refusing to pay fair prices. This led to Disney programming vanishing from YouTube TV.
Impact on Sports Fans
YouTube TV, with its 10 million subscribers, has become a favorite for sports fans. It carries NBC, Fox, CBS, and NFL Sunday Ticket.
Now, with the blackout, fans are missing out on:
- College football games on ESPN networks
- Monday Night Football
- College basketball season openers
This week, the beloved *College GameDay* pregame show and the BYU-Texas Tech game will be unavailable. Florida State’s primetime matchup with Clemson, Miami’s game against Syracuse, and the Florida Gators’ battle with Kentucky are all affected.
Alternative Viewing Options for Florida Fans
Even with the blackout, Florida fans aren’t totally out of luck. There are still ways to watch the big games—if you know where to look.
Miami vs. Syracuse
Start time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: Fubo (free trial) | ESPN Unlimited
The Miami Hurricanes face Syracuse at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN. You can stream it on the new ESPN app with the Unlimited plan ($29.99/month) or give Fubo’s free trial a shot.
Florida State vs. Wake Forest
Start time: 7 p.m. ET
TV channel: ACC Network
Streaming: Fubo (free trial) | ESPN Select or Unlimited
Florida State plays Wake Forest at 7:30 p.m. on ACC Network. The new ESPN app’s Select plan ($12.99/month) or Fubo’s free trial both work for this one.
Florida vs. Kentucky
Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: SEC Network
Streaming: Fubo (free trial) | ESPN Select or Unlimited
The Gators face Kentucky at 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network. Stream it with ESPN’s Select plan or try Fubo’s free trial if you haven’t before.
Florida Atlantic vs. Tulsa
Start time: 3 p.m. ET
TV channel: Not on traditional TV
Streaming: ESPN+
Florida Atlantic’s game against Tulsa is streaming only on the ESPN app. You’ll need a Select or Unlimited plan for that.
Florida International vs. Middle Tennessee
Start time: 3 p.m. ET
TV channel: Not on traditional TV
Streaming: ESPN+
Florida International faces Middle Tennessee, and it’s also streaming exclusively on the ESPN app. Again, either Select or Unlimited gets you in.
The Broader Implications
This dispute could mean fans miss the whole College Football Playoff, including weekly rankings and playoff games on ESPN and ABC. Most of bowl season is at risk too.
College volleyball and soccer championships are hanging in the balance. If things drag on, even the Stanley Cup and NBA Finals could be threatened. That’s a lot to lose over a contract fight, isn’t it?
Public Sentiment and Corporate Responses
Both companies have turned to social media and public statements, hoping to win fans over. Disney personalities like Stephen A. Smith and Mike Greenberg, plus coaches like Miami’s Mario Cristobal, have chimed in.
Not everyone’s impressed, though. Pat McAfee, whose podcast airs on ESPN, called out Disney’s constant pushes, saying it’s “pissing everybody off even more.”
Disney asked Google to restore ABC on YouTube TV for election night coverage on November 4, but Google said no. Instead, Google posted a counteroffer on the YouTube blog: “To truly achieve what is best for our mutual customers, we propose immediately restoring the Disney channels that our customers watch: ABC and the ESPN networks, while we continue to negotiate. Those are the channels that people want.”
Disney stuck to its earlier statements, accusing Google of “refusing to pay fair rates.” Both sides claim they’re working toward a solution, but honestly, who knows when this will end?
Compensation for Subscribers
Google has said that if Disney channels stay gone “for an extended period of time,” YouTube TV subscribers will get a $20 credit. Some folks have even noticed a random $60 credit pop up in their accounts, though that one seems unrelated.
Final Thoughts
The standoff between YouTube TV and Disney drags on. Fans are stuck, missing out on key sports content.
Alternative streaming options exist, sure, but they’re not always a perfect fit. This dispute could end up impacting major sporting events across several leagues.
If you’re curious and want the full story, check out the article on the Tallahassee Democrat.
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