If you’re a YouTube TV subscriber, you may have noticed that ABC, ESPN and other Disney-owned channels have gone dark on the platform today. The Walt Disney Co. has pulled its channels from YouTube TV as of midnight on Oct. 30 after the two companies failed to reach new terms on their latest carriage agreement.
That means that until that negotiation is resolved, you won’t be able to watch any programming from those stations. That includes all upcoming college football and NFL games broadcast on ESPN’s suite of channels —including Monday Night Football — as well as all ABC programming like Abbott Elementary, Grey’s Anatomy and Dancing with the Stars.
YouTube TV has stated that if Disney’s channels remain off the platform for an extended period, customers will receive a $20 monthly credit. That’s all fine and good, but if you’re looking to watch one of those upcoming games, you’re likely looking for a solution as soon as Friday night. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to get those channels back. If you want a permanent switch from YouTube TV, there’s Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, or Fubo, where you can watch all of those channels. If you’re looking for a workaround for this weekend (or for the long term) to watch ESPN, the Disney Channel, ABC and more, here’s are the best options so you won’t miss a moment of sports, news, or entertainment, all pulled from our list of best live TV streaming services to cut cable.
Grab an ESPN bundle so you won’t miss a single game this weekend
For $29.99, the ESPN unlimited package includes access to all of ESPN’s linear networks: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNews and ESPN Deportes, plus access to programming on ABC, ESPN+ content, ESPN3, SECN+ and ACCNX. That means fans will get coverage of more than 47,000 live events each year, on-demand replays, original programming and more so you won’t miss a single NFL or college football game this weekend on ABC or ESPN’s suite of channels, and you can watch your favorite shows the day after they air.
Right now, for a limited time, you can bundle ESPN unlimited with Disney+ and Hulu and pay $29.99/month for 12 months — that’s like getting those other services free for a year. Even if you’re a current subscriber to Disney+, Hulu or even the bundle, you can still upgrade to this great deal.
$29.99/month at ESPN
Get Hulu + Live TV at a great price
Hulu’s live TV tier includes access to live TV channels like ESPN, ABC, NBC, Fox, and access to Disney+ and ESPN select. For a limited time, you can get a hefty discount on the service for 3 months. New and eligible returning subscribers (those who have not been Hulu subscribers in the past month) can sign up for Hulu + Live TV (with ads) for $64.99/month for their first three months. This is an especially great value considering that Hulu and Disney+ increased their prices on Oct. 21.
You’ll also enjoy access to unlimited DVR storage, the ability to stream on multiple devices and more. This special rate ends at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on Nov. 5.
After the three-month trial period, your subscription will continue at the regular market rate of $89.99, but if you’re looking for an alternative to YouTube TV, now’s the perfect time to take advantage of this deal. (If the YouTube situation is resolved before the weekend is up, you can also just sign up for a 3-day trial of Hulu + Live TV).
$64.99/month at Hulu
Try Fubo free for a week and get $30 your first month
If you’re looking for a stopgap so you won’t miss any major games or shows this weekend, Fubo is offering a free 7-day trial so you can check out everything the platform has to offer, risk-free, and on top of that, you can get $30 off your first month.
Fubo TV gives you access to ESPN, Fox, ABC, CBS, NFL Network, and 100+ more live channels. At $80/month, the live TV streaming service is definitely a big investment but it’s one of the most comprehensive ways to watch live TV including the new NCAA season, the NFL, MLB and more, and still leaves you with major savings compared to a traditional cable package. Fubo subscribers also get 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage.
Try it free, then get $30 off at Fubo
Try DirecTV free for 5 days, and get $30 off your first month
DirecTV offers loads of great live channels, which means you can watch thousands of live sporting events, live TV and more with a regular subscription. And right now, for a limited time, you can get a $20 bill credit off your first month when you sign up, plus at least $10 more off per month for your first 24 months with a DirecTV Choice, Ultimate or Premier package — that’s over $250 in savings. You can find information on every package here.
Right now you can also get a free 5-day trial to test out the platform.
$30 off your first month at DirecTV
What about Sling “day passes”?
You may have heard that Sling offers day, weekend and week passes to its streaming programming for as little as $5 per day. That is an option if you’re looking for just some of the ESPN channels (the Sling Orange tier), but ABC isn’t included. You can get both with Sling’s Orange and Blue package ($30 a month to start, $61 thereafter), but you’ll need to add on the Sports Extra package for ESPNU, which requires an additional charge.
Get your local Disney/ABC programming for free
Need your local ABC programming? Your station may have its own free local streaming news channel (many do), you can see if The Roku Channel carries your local station’s news, or download your local news station app if it’s a Nexstar channel.
The other alternative — if you’re within the broadcast radius of a local ABC affiliate — is to get an over-the-air antenna. You can plug in your ZIP code at antennaweb.org to see what channels are in your area. This off-brand unit has worked very well in our initial testing — it’s under $30, and the channels are truly free.
What games are on ESPN/ABC this weekend?
If you’re wondering what games you might miss as a result of the YouTubeTV/Disney blackout, here’s a list of NCAAF games that will be broadcast this weekend on ABC or on one of ESPN’s many channels, and don’t forget about Monday Night Football on ESPN/ABC, too.
Friday, Oct. 31
7PM ET | No. 25 Memphis at Rice | ESPN2
7PM ET | Brown at Penn | ESPNU
7:30PM ET | North Carolina at Syracuse | ESPN
10:30PM ET | Idaho at Northern Arizona | ESPN2
Saturday, Nov. 1
12PM ET | No. 9 Vanderbilt at No. 20 Texas | ABC
12PM ET | No. 10 Miami (Fla.) at SMU | ESPN
12PM ET | Duke at Clemson | ACC Network
12PM ET | UCF at Baylor | ESPNU
12PM ET | Navy at North Texas | ESPN2
3:30PM ET | No. 5 Georgia vs. Florida (in Jacksonville, Fla.) | ABC
3:30PM ET | No. 12 Notre Dame at Boston College | ESPN
3:30PM ET | Pitt at Stanford | ACC Network
3:45PM ET | No. 15 Virginia at Cal | ESPN2
4PM ET | Mississippi State at Arkansas | SEC Network
4PM ET | Central Michigan at Western Michigan | ESPNU
7PM ET | South Carolina at No. 7 Ole Miss | ESPN
7:30PM ET | No. 8 Georgia Tech at NC State | ESPN2
7:30PM ET | No. 18 Oklahoma at No. 14 Tennessee | ABC
7:30PM ET | Kentucky at Auburn | SEC Network
7:30PM ET | Wake Forest at Florida State | ACC Network
8PM ET | Arkansas State at Troy | ESPNU
