YouTube's leverage in its fight with Disney goes beyond support from Google

Core Insights - YouTube TV is leveraging its growth and market position in negotiations with Disney, indicating a shift in bargaining power within the pay-TV industry [4][10][14] Company Overview - YouTube TV has grown from 2 million subscribers in late 2019 to approximately 10 million, making it the fastest-growing major TV provider [4][10] - The service is now the third-largest pay-TV provider, behind Charter and Comcast, and is projected to surpass them within two years [5][10] - Revenue for YouTube TV is estimated to have increased from less than $1 billion in 2019 to just under $8 billion in 2024, with projections of $11.6 billion by the end of 2027 [10] Industry Dynamics - Disney's channels, including ESPN and ABC, have been absent from YouTube TV for over a week due to a valuation dispute [2][3] - The competition in the virtual pay-TV space includes services like Fubo, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream, which have gained popularity among younger audiences [11][12] - The migration of sports content to standalone streaming services is impacting traditional pay-TV models, including YouTube TV [13]