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- YouTube TV subscribers hoping for an update on the Disney-Google dispute may be out of luck.
- Disney just told investors that it "cannot predict how long this service blackout will last."
- The Mouse House also said the rising cost of sports rights could hurt its business.
How long will the Disney-YouTube TV carriage dispute last? The Mouse House just told investors that it doesn't know.
Disney reported earnings on Thursday morning and shared its 10-K form, an annual filing with information about its business.
While Disney didn't mention YouTube, YouTube TV, or Google in its quarterly earnings or prepared executive commentary, it referenced its long-running standoff with the tech giant on its 10-K form in the "risk factors" section.
Disney disclosed to investors that its "channels were removed from YouTube TV following the expiration of the parties' distribution contract without agreement on renewal terms" on October 30, 2025.
"The Company cannot predict how long this service blackout will last or reasonably estimate the adverse impact on our results of operations," the 10-K continued.
Disney CFO Hugh Johnston said on the company's earnings call Thursday that negotiations with YouTube "could go for a little while," so the company "built a hedge" into its guidance.
Morgan Stanley estimates that Disney is losing $30 million a week from this dispute, which is now on its 14th day. The dispute is Disney's longest-ever carriage blackout.
Disney has said YouTube and Google are using their market power unfairly to push down rates, while YouTube has said that the rate Disney is looking for would cause it to raise prices.
CEO Bob Iger later said on the earnings call that Disney had made an offer that's "equal to, or better than" the terms that other large pay-TV distributors have.
"We're not trying to break new ground" in the YouTube TV negotiations, Iger said, adding that Disney wants to reach a deal that "reflects the value that we deliver."
Disney reported mixed results this quarter, with revenue slightly missing analyst expectations at $22.46 billion and adjusted earnings beating at $1.11 per share. Disney stock was down over 8% in trading on Thursday morning following the release of its earnings.
Besides losing affiliate fees from YouTube TV, Disney also said it could "lose programming rights or distribution rights if we are unable to renew these contracts on acceptable terms."
The company suggested that more carriage disputes could be around the corner. Disney said it has distribution contracts with other pay-TV providers that expire in 2026 that "could lead to temporary or longer-term service blackouts."
Disney acknowledged that the rising cost of sports rights is a challenge.
"Even if these contracts are renewed, the cost of obtaining certain programming rights has increased and may continue to increase (or increase at faster rates than our historical experience)," Disney said in its 10-K.
The company added: "There can be no assurance that revenues from programming based on these rights will exceed the cost of the rights plus the other costs of producing and distributing the programming."