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If you’re tuning in on ESPN or ABC, Monday Night Football is already underway. But if you’re a YouTube TV subscriber, it’s a different story. The lights are still off. YouTube TV and Disney couldn’t come to terms, and as a result, the fans are in the dark here.

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There are roughly 10 million YouTube TV subscribers, who won’t be able to watch tonight’s Cowboys-Cardinals game. Social media’s been full of fans trying to figure out where to watch, and plenty of frustration to go around. It’s surprising that a standoff like this is happening over a game involving the biggest franchise in the world, but here we are.

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Negotiations have stalled over price. Disney wants a higher per-subscriber rate, citing the value of its sports lineup across ESPN’s networks. YouTube TV is pushing back, trying to keep costs down. In the meantime, other streaming services are cashing in. Fans desperate to see their team will go wherever the game is, and that means more sign-ups elsewhere.

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YouTube TV says it’ll refund customers $20 if the blackout drags on, but that’s small comfort for those missing one of the biggest matchups of the week. For now, the only real option for YouTube TV subscribers is to go straight to the source and sign up for ESPN’s standalone service, which starts at $29.99 a month.

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Over the weekend, ESPN made a direct appeal to YouTube TV customers, urging them to demand the return of Disney channels. But so far, Google isn’t budging. There’s no sign of a deal before kickoff, and no indication that the blackout will end before next week’s PackersEagles matchup either.

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And somewhere out there, one of the more frustrated fans might be JJ Watt himself, who, by all accounts, is also a YouTube TV subscriber.

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Fans rally behind JJ Watt

No one was more frustrated than former defensive end JJ Watt, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his frustration and echo the sentiment of 10 million other subscribers. “So we’re just not watching Monday Night Football huh? I’m not buying another streaming subscription…,” he wrote.

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“The crazy part is, I have some sort of subscription because I watch Espanyol (soccer team) matches on ESPN+. But I can’t watch MNF. I don’t understand it and quite frankly just don’t really care to figure it out right now. Just frustrating. All of it,” he added.

And the fans rallied behind. “Welcome to being a fan, instead of player. Us fans have been going on with this for years. The NFL, NCAA football care more about money than outreach to fans,” one wrote.

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If a multimillionaire former professional football player is unwilling to buy another subscription, imagine what the common folks must be feeling. “What’s ridiculous is they did it in the middle of the season. Just another classic money grab from huge companies,” another wrote.

Fair enough. Many fans buy a streaming subscription at the start of the season to follow their team throughout the year. If they were made aware beforehand, they would’ve bought another subscription beforehand. Now, they’ll be forced to spend their hard-earned money to buy yet another subscription.

“Everyone wanted streaming and laughed at cable. How’s that working out?” Can’t really argue with that. Getting an antenna would give you ABC for free. And it’ll probably cost as much as buying a streaming subscription.

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Aryan Mamtani

1,067 Articles

Aryan Mamtani is an NFL writer at EssentiallySports with a strong analytical background and a deep passion for football. A former player and lifelong sports fan, Aryan brings a mix of football knowledge and emotional insight to his coverage. He specializes in breaking down complex plays, team strategies, and league dynamics in ways that resonate with both die-hard fans and casual readers. His work includes detailed analysis of games such as Sunday Night Football and storytelling that highlights the personal journeys behind the players. Aryan has experience in research and data analysis, which he skillfully incorporates into his writing. This approach allows him to deliver insightful, data-driven sports content that connects with diverse audiences through clear and engaging storytelling.

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Kratika Vajpayee

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