The NBA season is barely a week old, and fans already have another broadcast headache to worry about.
YouTube TV and Disney — which owns ESPN and ABC — are once again at an impasse. Unless a deal is reached before midnight Thursday, both networks could disappear from the streaming service’s lineup.
That would mean no ESPN games, no ABC Saturday night showcases, and potentially no NBA Finals for YouTube TV subscribers.
The situation mirrors the long-running standoff between YouTube TV and the FanDuel Sports regional networks (formerly Bally Sports), which still prevents millions of fans from watching their local NBA teams. Those networks are now owned by Main Street Sports Group, but the dispute with Google has dragged on for years.
This latest issue could take things to a new level. ESPN just kicked off a new media-rights deal with the NBA, joined by NBC and Amazon Prime.
For YouTube TV — one of the league’s most visible sponsors, even appearing on Finals signage — losing ESPN and ABC would create a major conflict of interest and a major hit to its reputation among sports fans.
Google has recently struck last-minute deals with Fox and Comcast, but Disney has historically been the toughest partner in these negotiations.
As always, each side blames the other for being greedy while consumers are left scrambling to find a way to watch.
If the blackout happens, NBA viewers could be forced to turn to cable, Hulu + Live TV, or Amazon for national broadcasts — yet another reminder that in 2025, watching basketball might be more complicated than ever.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
