Disney DirecTV agreement/ ESPN returns to DirecTV/ Disney channels back on DirecTV/ Newslooks/ After a nearly two-week blackout, DirecTV and Disney reached a deal that restores ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned channels to millions of DirecTV subscribers. The dispute, which affected sports fans and left major markets without ABC, ended just in time for ESPN’s college football broadcasts and the Emmy Awards. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but DirecTV will offer Disney’s streaming services in its packages.
DirecTV and Disney Resolve Dispute: Quick Looks
- End of Blackout: DirecTV subscribers regain access to ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned channels after a two-week blackout.
- Impact on Sports Fans: The agreement comes just in time for ESPN’s college football coverage and the NFL’s Monday Night Football.
- Future Streaming Options: DirecTV will offer Disney’s streaming services, including ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer option, to its customers.
- Markets Affected: The blackout impacted major cities including New York, San Francisco, and Chicago.
ESPN and ABC Return to DirecTV Following Disney Agreement
Deep Look
After a nearly two-week standoff, DirecTV and Disney have reached an agreement, restoring ESPN, ABC-owned stations, and other Disney channels to millions of DirecTV subscribers across the U.S. The resolution comes just in time for sports fans, ensuring that ESPN’s college football games will be available this weekend and that Sunday night’s Emmy Awards broadcast on ABC will reach viewers in key markets.
The blackout began on September 1, when Disney-owned channels, including ABC, ESPN, FX, and National Geographic, went dark on DirecTV due to a dispute over carriage fees and programming flexibility. The dispute impacted 11 million subscribers, affecting viewers in major cities such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.
Sports fans were particularly frustrated when ESPN went dark in the middle of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, and just before a highly anticipated college football game between LSU and Southern California. The blackout also prevented DirecTV subscribers from watching the NFL’s season-opening Monday Night Football game.
While neither company disclosed the financial specifics of the new agreement, DirecTV stated that its payments to Disney would follow “market-based” pricing. The deal also grants DirecTV the flexibility to offer Disney’s streaming services, including the upcoming ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, as a stand-alone option or as part of bundled packages.
The deal was reached after DirecTV filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, accusing Disney of negotiating in bad faith during the dispute.
This is the second time in two years that Disney’s negotiations over its programming have led to a blackout on a major TV provider. Last year, Disney’s channels went dark on Spectrum, the second-largest cable provider in the U.S., for 12 days before the two companies reached an agreement—just in time for that season’s Monday Night Football opener.
With the latest deal in place, DirecTV subscribers can now look forward to uninterrupted access to Disney’s channels and streaming services, and sports fans can once again tune in to their favorite games.
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