While ESPN and ABC are the headliners of this standoff, you might be surprised at just how many channels fall under the Walt Disney Company (and its subsidiaries) name. According to YouTube TV, the affected networks (via the base plan, Spanish Plan, or add-ons like Spanish Plus) include ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Freeform, FX, FXX, Disney Junior, SEC Network, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, Disney Channel, ESPNU, FXM, ABC News Live, ACC Network, Disney XD, Localish, ESPNews, ESPN Deportes (Spanish Plan), Baby TV Español (Spanish Plan), and Nat Geo Mundo (Spanish Plan).

As we mentioned above, there's no telling exactly when (or if) the YouTube TV and Disney issue might be resolved. Several similar carriage disputes have cropped up over the years. DirecTV and Disney had a similar issue in Fall 2024, which lasted 13 days before the two companies were able to reach an agreement, ultimately resulting in a new multi-year carriage deal. Disney also had an 11-day dispute with Charter (Spectrum) in 2023 and a brief blackout with Dish Network in 2022. This isn't even the first dispute between Disney and YouTube TV, as a similar blackout occurred back in 2021, although that lasted only a few days.

Carriage disputes also occasionally result in long-term blackouts. Fubo, for example, was unable to reach an agreement to renew its licensing deal with Warner Bros. Discovery in April 2024, and as a result, the streamer dropped all related WBD channels.

If you're considering Sling as a YouTube TV replacement, we recommend that you get the Sling Orange + Blue combination plan. However, if you're only budgeting for one of the plans, it's up to you and your personal interests to decide which option might be better. If your main focus is ESPN, then you absolutely need Sling Orange (or you should try ESPN Unlimited).

However, if you're ambivalent about ESPN and looking for a more well-rounded cable alternative or something that might have ABC, Sling Blue is the way to go, as it offers a more balanced selection of channel genres and the potential for local networks. For a comprehensive comparison of the two plans, refer to our Sling TV Orange vs. Blue guide.