YouTube TV subscribers who tune in for weekend sports are facing yet another blackout, as the ongoing carriage dispute between Disney and YouTube TV enters its third week—making it the longest such standoff in the company’s history. The conflict, which began over streaming rights and revenue-sharing terms, has already disrupted access to major events, including the recent Packers-Eagles matchup in the 2025 Wild Card round. Despite early predictions that the standoff would resolve quickly, negotiations have dragged on, with no clear end in sight. Disney’s CFO Hugh Johnston acknowledged on the company’s earnings call that talks with YouTube could continue for some time, adding a cautionary note in the company’s annual filing: “We cannot predict how long this service blackout will last.” While Disney stands to lose about $30 million per week during the blackout, executives are holding firm. This strategic posture benefits Disney’s leadership, particularly CEO Bob Iger, who has used the situation to emphasize the value of live sports and the importance of controlling distribution rights. Iger also highlighted how AI could enhance user experiences on Disney+, though that forward-looking vision wasn’t enough to offset investor concerns. The stock dipped nearly 8% on Thursday after Disney missed revenue expectations, underscoring market skepticism despite the company’s focus on innovation. Though the blackout currently affects only around 10 million YouTube TV subscribers, the implications could extend far beyond. Several of Disney’s other distribution agreements are set to expire next year, and this dispute may serve as a blueprint for future negotiations with other streaming platforms. Adding complexity to the situation, Disney has shifted some of the blame to sports leagues, which have become increasingly valuable to streamers. The rights to broadcast live games now command multi-billion-dollar deals, making them a key battleground in the streaming wars. In the meantime, some fans are turning to workarounds—like installing third-party apps on Amazon Fire TV Sticks to access pirated streams. But Amazon is actively cracking down on such apps, signaling that even these informal solutions may soon be blocked. As the standoff continues, the outcome will likely shape the future of sports streaming and set a precedent for how content owners and distributors negotiate in the evolving digital landscape.