The ongoing battle between Disney and YouTube TV has sparked a heated debate, with potential consequences for ABC’s ratings. This standoff, which has left millions of viewers in the dark, is a complex issue that deserves a closer look.
On October 31st, a carriage dispute between Disney and YouTube TV resulted in ABC, ESPN, and other Disney networks being pulled from YouTube TV’s platform. With a substantial subscriber base of around 10 million, YouTube TV’s absence could significantly impact ABC’s viewership.
The initial signs are concerning. ABC’s primetime college football game on November 1st saw a notable drop in ratings, although this could be attributed to the game’s timing, which coincided with the highly anticipated World Series Game 7. However, the real test came on Monday and Tuesday, when two of ABC’s flagship shows faced the consequences of the blackout.
Monday Night Football, usually a ratings powerhouse, averaged a mere 16.37 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, falling well short of its usual 20.17 million viewer average. Similarly, Dancing with the Stars, a long-running hit, experienced its first decline in viewership this season, with 6.33 million viewers tuning in on Tuesday. This marked the end of a remarkable six-week streak of audience growth, a rare feat for a fall broadcast series.
Disney has pointed out that live streaming of Dancing with the Stars on Disney+ saw an increase on Tuesday, suggesting that some viewers turned to the streaming platform to catch the show. However, this data is not without noise, as TV ratings often fluctuate due to various factors. The Monday Night Football game, for instance, featured a less-than-thrilling matchup, while election night coverage on Tuesday may have drawn viewers to cable news channels.
Despite these mitigating factors, the impact of the Disney-YouTube TV standoff on ABC’s ratings cannot be ignored. With the dispute ongoing, the question remains: How will this affect the future of television viewing and the power dynamics between media giants? Join the discussion and share your thoughts on this controversial issue. What do you think will be the long-term consequences of this standoff?