YouTube TV and Disney have been battling over a steep rise in carriage fees for weeks. Disney is asking for significantly higher per-subscriber rates, especially for ESPN, which is among the most expensive channels in the entire TV industry.

YouTube TV argues that Disney’s new pricing would force them to raise subscription costs for everyone. Because both sides refused to back down, the negotiations collapsed and Disney eventually pulled its channels on October 31. YouTube TV is now issuing a one-time $20 credit to affected subscribers while the blackout continues.

Why YouTube TV is paying you for Disney’s missing channels

A small group of users initially reported how YouTube TV offered them $10 every month for six months. This bonus was supposed to be compensation for Disney’s blackout. They’ve now changed it to a one-time $20 payment instead. If you were affected, you should receive an email explaining how to get your credit. 

It turns out that YouTube TV reached out to Disney earlier because the blackout had dragged on long enough. Subscribers were getting angry, and YouTube TV was starting to feel the pressure of cancellations.

They tried to negotiate a temporary fix where Disney would restore ABC and ESPN, so that viewers could at least have the essentials back while they were negotiating pricing.

Disney’s response was intentionally minimal, and they offered to bring back ABC for just one day during the US elections. If YouTube TV had accepted that offer, Disney would have emerge looking like the reasonable party. YouTube TV would look desperate, and when the channels disappeared again the next day, viewers would likely blame them and not Disney.

YouTube TV did reject the offer as it would harm them more than it would help. You don’t want to be giving your subscribers false hope and appear like you’re begging for scraps instead of negotiating from a position of strength.

It also would have given Disney leverage in their pricing dispute. It won’t be hard for them to later argue that they had offered goodwill during a critical national event and use that moral high ground to push harder for higher licensing fees.

How to get $20 YouTube TV credit

You won’t get YouTube TV’s $20 credit automatically unless you pay for the service through Google Play or another outside provider. The base plan alone costs $83 per month. If you pay directly with your card, you must claim it yourself. Follow these steps to do it.

1. Open YouTube TV in a web browser and not the mobile app. Then sign in to your account.

2. Click your profile picture.

3. Go to Settings.

5. Scroll down to Updates.

6. Look for a Disney Content message. It should say something like “We know this is frustrating… we’re offering you a one-time $20 credit”.

7. Tap Claim Credit.

The $20 will automatically be taken off your next bill. If you signed up through Google Play, the system should apply for you without doing anything. Check your subscription page to be sure.