Brian Windhorst is set to keep appearing on ESPN, but the real question is, where will ESPN appear? Fans have found themselves caught in the middle of the feud between Disney/ABC and YouTube. With ESPN now blacked out on YouTube TV, their go-to hub for Windhorst, Stephen A. Smith, and other favorites is gone. Until the standoff ends, few seem in the mood to celebrate Windhorst’s return.

According to the ESPN press release, the network reached a multi-year agreement with the veteran sportscaster. The exact value of the deal and the duration are not reported. But given Stephen A. Smith’s $100 million contract recently, it might not be small.

Windy’s continuation as ESPN’s senior writer – his official designation alongside chatting up NBA personalities on air – is polarizing by itself. He has both fans and haters, but now it is just that the timing has set a different tone. Since October 30, ESPN and other Disney-owned properties aren’t available on YouTube TV. This is when NBA viewing is split up across multiple platforms.

Fans wanted ESPN back on YouTube far more than they cared about Brian Windhorst’s contract extension. The blackout and what they call mismanagement have overshadowed the news, making viewers indifferent to who is on the network if they cannot access it. In this frustration, Windhorst has become collateral in the backlash against ESPN and Disney/ABC.

Fans direct their anger at Brian Windhorst’s bosses

ESPN said in a statement that Brian Windhorst will “continue to provide insights and analysis across ESPN platforms.” For his viewers, though, it would’ve been helpful if the ‘platforms’ included YouTube TV. Windy and the usual suspects are going to be missing a huge chunk of their usual viewers, who lost access to ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network, and ESPNU in a larger contract dispute.

His career news was met with responses like, “ESPN employees posting about themselves signing multi-year extensions while holding the rest of the country hostage,” which perfectly captures fan sentiment toward Brian Windhorst’s contract news. With over 9 million YouTube TV subscribers unable to access ESPN and more than 20 Disney-owned channels blacked out since October 30, 2025, viewers see Windhorst’s deal as tone-deaf, a celebration of talent while millions are locked out of the network’s shows.

The deal received pretty harsh comments like “Not the ESPN deal we wanna hear about.” Viewers are irritated that Windhorst’s multi-year extension is being highlighted while access to ESPN is restricted. The blackout, which has affected every major sports broadcast, including the NFL and the NBA, makes the contract seem irrelevant. Fans’ sentiment is clear that until the network is restored on their platform, who stays or leaves ESPN barely matters.

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Comments like “None of us want to hear about ESPN reaching a deal with anyone except YouTube TV” sum up fan frustration after Disney‑owned channels, including ESPN and ABC, went dark when the contract expired at 11:59 PM ET on October 30, 2025. Fans were angered that the blackout affected all major live sports broadcasts, turning what should be talent news into a grievance over denied access.

YouTube and Disney’s contract extensions broke down when both sides disagreed on the financial terms. YouTube TV endeared itself to customers by offering compensation. That made the fans redirect the anger to the House of Mouse side and urged them, “ANNOUNCE YOUTUBETV AGREEMENT OR WE DONT CARE.” Such emotions capture the exasperation of fans who felt ignored in the corporate tug-of-war.

There was even mild threatening like, “NOBODY CARES MAKE GOOD WIT YTTV OR WE RIOT.” Others are optimistic, like, “Can he get ESPN back on YTTV?” with hopes that Windhorst & Co. could mediate. If filtered out, fans are sort of congratulating him. It’s just the irony that they can’t watch Windhorst and other ESPN shows online that is making it hard for fans.