DirecTV has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), accusing Disney of bad faith negotiations in their ongoing dispute over a new carriage agreement. The impasse, now in its second week, has resulted in a blackout of Disney-owned channels, including ESPN and ABC, affecting 11.3 million DirecTV subscribers. Key events like college football games, the U.S. Open finals, and upcoming Monday Night Football games have been blacked out, along with a presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
DirecTV is pushing for more flexible and affordable programming bundles, while Disney argues that the mutual release of claims is standard in licensing agreements. The dispute echoes a similar one between Disney and Charter Spectrum last year, which was resolved just before the NFL season opener. Negotiations are ongoing, with pressure mounting for a resolution.
Quick Read
- DirecTV filed a complaint with the FCC accusing Disney of bad faith negotiations in their ongoing carriage agreement dispute.
- Disney-owned channels, including ESPN and ABC, have been blacked out for 11.3 million DirecTV subscribers since Sept. 1.
- The blackout has affected key events, including college football games, the U.S. Open finals, and the upcoming Monday Night Football opener.
- DirecTV seeks more flexible and cheaper programming bundles, while Disney defends standard mutual release claims in negotiations.
- The impasse mirrors a similar dispute between Disney and Charter Spectrum last year, resolved just before the NFL season opener.
- Negotiations between DirecTV and Disney are ongoing as pressure builds for a resolution.
DirecTV files FCC complaint against Disney as channel blackout continues
NEWSLOOKS – (AP)
The standoff between DirecTV and Disney over a new carriage agreement intensified as DirecTV filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), accusing Disney of negotiating in bad faith. The dispute, now in its second week, has resulted in a blackout of Disney-owned channels, including ESPN and ABC stations, affecting 11.3 million DirecTV subscribers since Sept. 1.
The blackout has left viewers unable to access key events like college football games and the U.S. Open tennis finals, including the women’s and men’s championships. The impact is expected to grow with the upcoming Monday Night Football season opener and the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, both of which will air on ABC and ESPN.
In its 10-page complaint, DirecTV claims that Disney is violating the FCC’s good faith mandates by making anticompetitive demands, including requiring DirecTV to waive legal claims related to its packaging practices. DirecTV has been pushing for more flexible, cost-effective bundles for customers instead of larger bundles that include channels some viewers may not want.
DirecTV CEO Ray Carpenter emphasized the company’s focus on securing a deal that ensures long-term sustainability for its customers, saying, “We’re not playing a short-term game. We need something that works for the long-term sustainability of our video customers.”
Disney, however, maintains that the mutual release of claims is a standard practice in licensing negotiations and that similar agreements have been reached in the past. A Disney spokesperson stated, “We continue to negotiate with DirecTV to restore access to our content as quickly as possible. We urge DirecTV to prioritize their customers by finalizing a deal that would allow subscribers to watch our upcoming lineup of sports, news, and entertainment programming, including the return of Monday Night Football.”
Last year, Disney and Charter Spectrum faced a similar dispute, reaching a resolution just hours before the first Monday Night NFL game of the season. Both sides are under increasing pressure to settle this latest impasse
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