The Monday Night Football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers marked the second matchup affected by the ongoing Disney-YouTube TV carriage dispute. As a result, subscribers have now missed an increasing number of NFL and college football games, adding to their frustration.
Both Disney and Google’s YouTube TV are pulling out all the stops to sway public opinion amid the ongoing squabble. YouTube TV has taken steps to appease subscribers by offering credits as compensation for the games they’ve missed. On the other side, Disney and ESPN opted for a different approach: bringing Disney CEO Bob Iger onto ESPN2’s ManningCast, presumably to provide clarity or to put a positive spin on the situation.
The 74-year-old Iger, a lifelong Packers fan and franchise investor, appeared alongside Peyton and Eli Manning. Wearing a crisp Green Bay hoodie, Iger enthusiastically shared stories about his favorite NFL team while the Mannings asked him several easy, softball questions. The interview started off as light and casual, seemingly setting the stage for a segue to address the YouTube TV dispute.
However, that moment never came.
After a few segments, the Mannings wrapped up the conversation, thanked Iger for his time, and sent him on his way. No mention was made of the carriage dispute, leaving viewers baffled. To put it mildly—what was the point of that?
At this juncture, Disney and ESPN appear to be losing the public relations battle against Google and YouTube, a surprising outcome given Disney’s vast resources. Their prior attempts to push viewers back through ESPN talent have largely backfired, particularly with vocal critics like Pat McAfee. The company has also lost goodwill among many notable NFL fans and media figures.
Short of an unexpected capitulation to get their content back on YouTube TV quickly, there are few remaining opportunities for Disney to control the narrative effectively. This could have been one such opportunity.
Iger’s silence on the issue during the ManningCast interview raises more questions than it answers. For many viewers who tuned in specifically hoping to hear the CEO weigh in on the dispute, it was an annoying letdown — just a chance for Iger to gush about his beloved Packers instead.
As the carriage dispute drags on, subscribers and fans alike continue to hope for a resolution that brings their favorite football content back to their screens. Until then, the silence speaks volumes.
https://awfulannouncing.com/disney/ceo-bob-iger-manningcast-dispute-said-nothing-espn-youtube-tv.html