How YouTube TV subscribers can get their $20 credit while Disney’s ESPN and ABC remain off the air
Don't forget to claim your $20 credit from YouTube. (Getty Images)NurPhoto via Getty Images
If you're a YouTube TV subscriber who relies on ESPN for football games, or maybe you never miss an episode of Dancing with the Stars (which airs on ABC), you're probably getting frustrated with the ongoing Disney feud. The two channels, along with other Disney-owned channels like Freeform and FX, have been off air since October 30, which is just over two weeks.
While no resolution has been reached yet, the two large streaming companies are still negotiating the new pricing terms. One analyst has estimated that Disney is losing upwards of $4 million per day while the holdout continues. "We’re ready to go as long as they want to,” said Disney's CFO Hugh Johnston on CNBC while discussing the company's quarterly earnings. Disney, of course, is trying to maximize the fees it gets for its channels, while YouTube claims Disney is "proposing costly economic terms," which could result in higher subscription prices.
But there's good news: YouTube has made good on its promise to offer a $20 credit to subscribers — you should've received an email from YouTube about it. However, it's not automatic so you'll need to claim it first — here's how to do it.
How to get your $20 credit from YouTube TV
YouTube TV already costs you at least $83 a month, so take advantage of the $20 credit while you can. Here's what you need to do.
Open YouTube TV in a web browser and go to your Membership Settings in the upper-right corner.
Go to the bottom of the menu and click Updates.
Click "Claim credit" on the Updates screen.
You should see a confirmation screen showing you've claimed the credit. It will be applied to your next bill, likely in December.
Here's what your screen should look like when claiming the $20 credit. (Screenshots by Engadget)
How to pause or cancel YouTube TV
If the two can't reach an agreement, you may be looking to cancel your YouTube TV subscription (or at least pause it until there's a resolution). Here's how to do it.
Open YouTube TV in a web browser and go to your Membership Settings.
Click Membership.
Click Manage.
Click Cancel Membership, and then click Cancel to confirm.
In the same settings, you can also pause your subscription until YouTube cuts a deal with Disney. Go to Settings > Membership > select the number of weeks you want to pause your subscription, and then click Pause.
That'll at least give you more time to decide whether it's worth keeping your account or closing it out.
What are my alternatives to YouTube TV?
Your $20 credit just goes to your next YouTube TV bill. But if you view that as "$20 more to spend on streaming this month," you can put that budget towards some fairly straightforward workarounds, including ESPN's new standalone service, Fubo (a YouTube TV competitor) and several more. Check out the best ways to watch ESPN and ABC during the YouTube TV blackout for more.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/how-youtube-tv-subscribers-can-get-their-20-credit-while-disneys-espn-and-abc-remain-off-the-air-172824463.html?src=rss
