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why is dancing with the stars not on youtube tv

“Dancing with the Stars” is not currently available on YouTube TV because ABC (and other Disney-owned channels) have been pulled from the service due to an unresolved carriage and licensing dispute between Disney and YouTube TV’s parent company, Google. This blackout affects all ABC programming on YouTube TV, so DWTS is caught in the middle rather than being singled out.

What’s actually going on?

The core issue is a contract fight over money and channel terms between Disney and YouTube TV.

  • Disney removed its networks (including ABC and ESPN) from YouTube TV after the previous agreement expired without a new deal.
  • Disney claims it offered YouTube TV a cheaper overall deal than the last one, while YouTube TV says Disney’s terms would raise prices for subscribers and limit flexibility.

Because “Dancing with the Stars” airs on ABC, once ABC was pulled from YouTube TV, the show disappeared from the lineup even though the show itself hasn’t been canceled.

How this impacts DWTS on YouTube TV

For YouTube TV subscribers, the blackout means:

  • No live ABC feed, so no live broadcast of DWTS on YouTube TV.
  • No DVR recordings of DWTS via YouTube TV while ABC remains unavailable.
  • Fans have turned to social media and forums to vent, share workarounds, and ask how to watch the show without switching long-term providers.

Some entertainment outlets and fan communities describe it as part of a broader pattern where carriage disputes between big media and streaming services temporarily cut off popular shows, with viewers stuck in the crossfire.

Where you can watch DWTS instead

Even though it’s off YouTube TV, “Dancing with the Stars” is still watchable through other platforms. Common options being discussed include:

  • Disney+ – Offers live streaming of DWTS in markets where the live ABC feed is included, plus access to episodes.
  • Hulu
    • Hulu + Live TV: Live ABC in supported areas.
* Regular Hulu: Next‑day streaming of episodes after they air on ABC.
  • Other live TV streamers – Some guides highlight alternatives like DirecTV Stream and FuboTV, which still carry ABC in many regions.
  • Over‑the‑air antenna – If you’re in range of a local ABC station, you can watch DWTS free with an antenna, completely outside any streaming dispute. (This solution is often suggested in viewing guides, even if not unique to DWTS.)

Fan forum threads also mention less official streams and third‑party “TV apps,” but those can be of questionable legality and reliability, so they come with obvious risks.

Why this is a trending topic now

The problem is getting attention because:

  • It hits during a popular season of DWTS, including milestone celebrations like the 20th anniversary and special theme nights.
  • Many households now rely on a single live TV streaming service, so losing ABC disrupts sports, news, and hit shows all at once.
  • Fans on Reddit and other forums are frustrated that the corporate standoff pushes them to sign up for yet another streaming service just to keep watching the same show.

Some viewers blame Disney for pulling channels to gain leverage, while others blame YouTube TV for refusing terms that would keep ABC on the lineup, arguing both sides are prioritizing profits over fan experience.

Will DWTS come back to YouTube TV?

There is no firm public timeline for a resolution, and coverage suggests the dispute “isn’t going to end anytime soon,” which means the blackout could last for multiple weeks or longer.

Historically, these kinds of carriage disputes do eventually get resolved, often after enough subscriber pressure or bad publicity, at which point channels and shows like DWTS usually return without much fanfare. (This is inferred by comparing how similar disputes have played out in TV industry coverage.) Until a new deal is signed, the reason “why Dancing with the Stars is not on YouTube TV” is simply that ABC itself is missing from the service due to the ongoing Disney–YouTube TV contract blackout, forcing DWTS fans to watch on Disney+, Hulu, or other live TV options instead.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.