It's been nearly two weeks since ABC, ESPN and other Disney-owned channels have gone dark on YouTube TV, with customers losing access to related content on their DVRs from Disney brands as well. Disney and Google-owned YouTube TV are continuing to negotiate a new carriage agreement, with no firm date yet set for a deal.
Viewers lose out when feuds like this happen, but if you're a YouTube TV subscriber, you don't have to miss all your favorite sports events and other programming. There are short-term fixes that don't involve getting cable.
NFL's Monday Night Football, NBA games, college basketball and more are available on other services using the options below. In addition to offering guidance through our NBA streaming guide and the best NFL platforms for cord-cutters, we're sharing where you can watch ESPN and ABC without paying a lot of money. (And don't forget, you can always use this app to find a sports bar or buy an antenna.)
5 options for YouTube TV subscribers
- Sling Orange Day/Weekend Pass: $5, $10; carries ESPN
- ESPN Unlimited: $30; carries ESPN networks
- Fubo Sports: $46 for first month after free trial; carries ABC and ESPN networks
- DirecTV MySports: $70 after free trial; access to ESPN networks and, in some regions, ABC
- Hulu Plus Live TV: $65 promo offer after free trial; carries ABC and ESPN channels
Most of these packages can serve as a temporary solution, provided you remember to cancel your subscription before the monthly price is due. Here's a rundown of what these services offer in terms of channel lineups, cost and bundle options.
Sling's short-term streaming passes exclude ABC as part of the package, but viewers can watch ESPN, ESPN2, CNN, TNT and more in a lineup with more than 30 channels. If you only want to watch a single game -- like Monday Night Football -- Sling's $5 Day Pass offers 24-hour streaming access on its Orange plan. You may also choose to pay $10 for the Weekend Pass, which grants you access to Sling Orange from Friday at 1 a.m. MT through Monday at 1 a.m. MT.
We'll also note that Sling Orange only comes with a single stream, so you can't watch on multiple devices at a time.
ESPN Unlimited is a new streaming service that costs $30 a month and offers access to 12 main ESPN channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC and ESPN3. There is no free trial available, but this service can be bundled with Fox One, DirecTV's MySports package, Fubo Sports or Disney streaming services like Hulu Plus Live TV.
Fubo Sports is a slimmed-down live TV streaming package that caters to sports and news, featuring roughly 30 channels. The lineup carries ABC, CBS, Fox, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ACCN and other channels that allow you to stream NBA, NFL and college sports.
A free trial is available for new customers (though the length may vary), and the first month is discounted to $46, which increases to the regular monthly rate of $56 in the second month. Fubo Sports customers also get access to an ESPN Unlimited subscription at no additional cost. Plug in your zip code to verify that this plan is available in your area.
Priced at $70 a month, DirecTV's MySports package sits under its Genre Pack offerings and comes with more than 30 channels, including ACC Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPNU, ESPN2, NFL Network, TBS and TNT. Local stations such as ABC, CBS and NBC are available across 180 regions and continue to roll out nationwide. Right now, new subscribers can get a five-day free trial, and access to ESPN Unlimited is included with the MySports plan.
Hulu's live TV streaming service is owned by Disney, and it is typically the most expensive option at $90 per month. However, new and returning customers can sign up for a discounted rate of $65 a month for three months, and includes a free trial. That means you can use the service for a few days without being charged before that fee kicks in. This package also includes ESPN Unlimited as an added perk at no extra cost.