TL;DR
- YouTube TV and Disney are sparring over content distribution rights following the expiration of their contract last month.
- Movies, TV shows, and 21 channels disappeared from YouTube TV as a result, but Disney content is also vanishing from more Google platforms.
- Users can no longer buy or rent Disney content from YouTube, Google Play, or Google TV as the negotiations continue.
Google and Disney are amid a tense content rights battle that saw 21 channels disappear from YouTube TV last week. Disney is using its strong content portfolio, which includes ABC, ESPN, and National Geographic, as leverage in the negotiations. Now, it appears Disney is pulling its owned media from all of Google’s digital storefronts, not just YouTube TV’s live television service.
Movies and TV shows owned by Disney or its subsidiaries are no longer available for purchase or to rent on Google Play, YouTube, or Google TV, as spotted by 9to5Google. Users will only be able to watch Disney-owned content on those platforms if they previously purchased them or have an active Disney Plus subscription.