YouTube was forced to pull all Disney network channels from YouTube TV late last month, as the renewal negotiation talks between the two companies fell through. Back then, YouTube TV promised a $20 credit for its subscribers if Disney channels stayed off its service for an extended period of time. The company is sticking to its commitment and sending out the credit to affected users, though there’s a big catch.
Unfortunately, YouTube TV is only offering a one-time $20 credit. Assuming Disney channels don’t return to the live cable streaming service, and YouTube TV doesn’t adjust its monthly subscription prices accordingly, this one-time credit won’t make up for the loss. Worse, YouTube will not automatically apply the credit to your account. Instead, you must manually claim it, and the process will require visiting your YouTube TV account page on a web browser (via Reddit).
You can check whether the credit is available for your account by visiting this link on a PC. The page also mentions that users can subscribe to ESPN directly to view Disney’s sports programming. If the credit isn’t showing up, don’t worry. YouTube says it will email all YouTube TV subscribers over the next few days with detailed instructions on how to redeem the $20 credit.
If you pay directly for YouTube TV, the credit will apply directly to your bill. And if you pay via Google Play or other means, the credit will be reflected on that account.
The one-time credit applies to your next monthly billing cycle, and not the current one. So, if you cancel your subscription before that, the credit won’t apply. Google sending out the $20 credit also signals that its feud with Disney may not reach a conclusion anytime soon.
In case you claimed the recent $10 monthly discount from YouTube TV, the $20 credit will stack on top of it.
Disney accuses YouTube TV of wanting preferential treatment
ESPN chairperson Jimmy Pitaro, along with Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, sent a memo to Disney employees late last week outlining the company’s issues with YouTube TV. The Atlantic obtained the memo, which accuses YouTube TV of seeking preferential treatment below market terms.
In response to the leaked memo, YouTube called out Disney for resorting to its old strategy of leaking documents to the press.
Given the public falling out between the two companies, a resolution seems unlikely anytime soon.
