Part 4/11:
What makes Disney’s situation particularly complex is that Disney owns not only the content being disputed but also a direct competitor—Hulu Live TV. This dual role puts Disney in a paradoxical position: they are both a content supplier and a rival in the streaming arena. The current standoff with YouTube TV, therefore, is not only about carriage fees but also about market dominance and strategic advantage.
Compounding the problem, Disney’s efforts to hold out on traditional channels have resulted in lost viewers and advertising dollars. For example, fans missed Monday Night Football featuring the Dallas Cowboys against the Arizona Cardinals, and key college basketball games, which are high-engagement events normally lucrative for advertisers.