Survey: 1 in 4 YouTube TV Subscribers Say They Will Quit Over Disney Standoff

Is this what Disney always wanted? According to a new survey, 24% of YouTube TV subscribers say they have already canceled the service or they are planning to as a result of their carriage dispute with Disney.

Surveys aren’t hard numbers and Google almost never provides hard numbers on YouTube TV. But given the growing importance of ESPN and the decreasing value of almost every other channel, there’s likely at least a little fire behind this smoke.

It’s now been 7 days since contract renewal talks broke down and YouTube TV lost ABC, ESPN, FX, SEC Network, and more. YouTube TV has promised it will offer its subscribers a $20 credit if this dispute drags on.

The survey of 1,100 YouTube TV subscribers by Drive Research suggests Disney may be reaping the rewards of this battle.

• 30% say they’ve subscribed (or plan to subscribe) to Disney-owned Hulu + Live TV or ESPN Unlimited
• 22% say they’ll use someone else’s login to watch Hulu + Live TV or ESPN Unlimited
• 15% have used or will consider using an illegal stream to watch

The wildest number involves the 82% of people who say they’ll cancel their YouTube TV account if the dispute isn’t resolved “soon.”

What Are the Best YouTube TV Alternatives?

DIRECTV

DIRECTV is my go-to live TV provider because it excels at the intersection of price, channel availability, and flexibility.

It has inexpensive “genre packs” with a limited channel lineup for $19.99-$69.99.

If you want a standard full TV package, the price is higher, starting at $99.99 after early rebates. But DIRECTV offers the best lineup of regional sports channels and it’s not even close.

If you sign up for the $34.99 MyEntertainment package, you’d get free Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max.

If you want ESPN, your cheapest option is MySports at $69.99.

DIRECTV includes an unlimited DVR, unlimited streams at home, and a very friendly user interface. It’s Streaming Smarter’s top choice for first-time cord-cutters.

Read our full DIRECTV review.

Sling TV

If you need ESPN just for one day, one weekend, or one week, Sling has you covered. Thanks to its short-term “passes,” you don’t need a full month’s subscription to watch. If you only need 24 hour access, Sling can provide that for $4.99.

I love that Sling allows a lot of flexibility, so you don’t have to pay for as many channels as you’re stuck with at YouTube TV. Choose a skinny lineup of channels or go nuts and build your dream package. Sling’s flexibility and affordability make it a great choice.

Just be aware ABC isn’t available in all markets, so you may need an antenna if you want that channel.

Read our full Sling TV review.

Fubo

We don’t normally recommend Fubo because its price is outrageous compared to its competitors. But it’s a strong option for sports fans, and the Disney-owned channels are available because Disney owns a majority of the company now.

Read our full Fubo review.

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV might be the best value in live TV streaming. Not only do you get a generous channel lineup, you also get free Disney+, ESPN Unlimited, and Hulu on-demand. It’s a great package for families. Many users complain about the clunky interface. Still, it’s a ton of entertainment for a fair price.

Hulu + Live TV may have known this standoff was going to happen because they extended their sale on the service until Nov. 18. Sign up now and you’ll lock in a rock-bottom price for 3 months.

Read our full Hulu + Live TV review.

ESPN Unlimited

If you only care about missing the ESPN sports package, you can subscribe to ESPN Unlimited for $29.99/month. Right now, that also includes free Hulu and Disney+ for a year. ESPN Unlimited gives you all the sports from all the ESPN channels as well as ABC.

It also includes more than 1,000 out-of-market NHL games, so it’s an incredible value for hockey fans. There are lots of exclusive college sports as well.

Read our full ESPN Unlimited Review