Disney pulls ABC, ESPN and other channels from DirecTV in carriage standoff | CNN Business (2024)

Disney pulls ABC, ESPN and other channels from DirecTV in carriage standoff | CNN Business (1)

DirecTV satellite dishes are seen on an apartment roof in Los Angeles, California in this file photo.

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Disney on Sunday pulled its ABC stations, ESPN and other cable networks from DirecTV’s lineup as the two companies failed to reach a new distribution deal, leaving millions of sports fans in the dark as the college football and NFL seasons get underway.

The expiration of an agreement between the two companies led to Disney-owned networks going dark for more than 11 million satellite subscribers ahead of Sunday night’s kickoff between the USC Trojans and LSU Tigers, midway through the US Open tennis tournament and days before the NFL season opener.

“The Walt Disney Co. is once again refusing any accountability to consumers, distribution partners, and now the American judicial system,” Rob Thun, chief content officer at DirecTV, said in a statement. “Disney is in the business of creating alternate realities, but this is the real world where we believe you earn your way and must answer for your own actions. They want to continue to chase maximum profits and dominant control at the expense of consumers - making it harder for them to select the shows and sports they want at a reasonable price.”

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While the standoff knocked ESPN and Disney-owned ABC affiliates off the nation’s third largest pay TV provider, it also forced other networks to go dark on the service, including FX, National Geographic and Freeform.

“DirecTV chose to deny millions of subscribers access to our content just as we head into the final week of the US Open and gear up for college football and the opening of the NFL season,” Disney Entertainment chiefs Dana Walden, Alan Bergman and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “While we’re open to offering DirecTV flexibility and terms which we’ve extended to other distributors, we will not enter into an agreement that undervalues our portfolio of television channels and programs. We urge DirecTV to do what’s in the best interest of their customers and finalize a deal that would immediately restore our programming.”

As negotiations between the two parties stretched on, Disney offered DirecTV a sports-centric package that included ESPN networks and ABC sports broadcasts, as well as a selection of Disney’s linear channels paired with some of the entertainment giant’s direct-to-consumer services, a person familiar with the matter told CNN.

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Disney emphasized that the rates they’re requesting from DirecTV are in line with those of other providers and reflect the value of its entertainment portfolio. A Disney spokesperson said DirecTV had sought “unreasonable” discounts. But DirecTV said that Disney had demanded that to reach a deal, the carrier must waive all futurelegalclaims that its behavior is anti-competitive.

The collapse of the talks comes as satellite and cable providers seek skinnier and more flexible bundles from programmers that could allow for more affordable options for consumers seeking a smaller selection of channels.

“Unfortunately, while [direct to consumer] offerings have evolved, pay TV packages have remained largely unchanged,” Thun said in an open letter ahead of the deal’s collapse. “Instead of allowing distributors like DirecTV to also develop smaller, more tailored packages at prices that reflect the value they get from the content, programmers have continued to impose and enforce strict bundling requirements through exorbitant minimum penetration rates – the minimum proportion of a distributor’s subscribers required to access a channel.”

The stalemate comes as media giants look to muscle up their streaming arms, with Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery (CNN’s parent company), Paramount and others increasingly airing premium shows on their own digital services, forgoing traditional cable and satellite distribution and its tens of millions of subscribers.

“Consumer frustration is at an all-time high as Disney shifts its best producers, most innovative shows, top teams, conferences, and entire leagues to their direct-to-consumer services while making customers pay more than once for the same programming on multiple Disney platforms,” Thun said in his statement Sunday. “Disney’s only magic is forcing prices to go up while simultaneously making its content disappear.”

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Last year, Disney renewed adistribution deal with Charter, avoiding a last-minute blackout of “Monday Night Football” after the cable provider demanded greater flexibility in its bundles and access to Disney’s streaming services. While the showdown briefly resulted in Disney-owned channels being pulled from Charter’s Spectrum service over Labor Day weekend, Disney ultimately agreed to a deal that offered Charter subscribers access to its Disney+ and ESPN+ services.

Legacy media companies have been working for years to transition away from relying on the traditional cable bundle and toward streaming services as millions of consumers cut the cord each year, a migration prompted by the rapid rise of Netflix. Earlier this month, a federal judge temporarily blocked the launch of a forthcoming sports-focused joint streaming venture from Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox Corporation, dealing a major blow to the effort.

The decision came after Fubo, a smaller rival sports streaming service, alleged in a lawsuit that the trio were attempting to leverage their sports media rights to edge out competitors, cornering the market in a single, anticompetitive bundle.

Disney pulls ABC, ESPN and other channels from DirecTV in carriage standoff | CNN Business (2024)

FAQs

What channels did Disney pull from DirecTV? ›

In its statement on Sept. 1, DirecTV said that "millions of DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and U-verse customers" lost access to Disney programming channels. That programming includes include Disney Plus, ESPN, ABC, Hulu, Freeform and FX.

What is happening with Disney and DirecTV? ›

Disney denies DIRECTV request to return programming ahead of Presidential Debate. For the past 10 days, The Walt Disney Co. has blocked sports fans and families from enjoying their programming on DIRECTV while we have tried to reach a new agreement.

Why are ESPN and ABC not working on DirecTV? ›

1, Disney removed all of its programming channels -- including ESPN, ABC, Hulu, Freeform and FX -- from the DirecTV satellite service. Disney's decision to remove its programming appears to stem from a dispute over its licensing agreement with DirecTV.

Why is ESPN gone from DirecTV? ›

The company failed to reach an agreement with Disney before the Sept. 1 expiration of their prior distribution agreement, resulting in ESPN, ABC, SEC Network, Disney Channel, NatGeo, Freeform and the rest of Disney's networks getting pulled from the DirecTV lineup.

What channels are no longer on DirecTV? ›

The broadcaster pays Disney roughly $2 billion annually for its content, according to MoffettNathanson Research. Besides all ESPN network channels and ABC-owned stations, Disney-branded channels Freeform, FX and National Geographic are also currently unavailable on DirecTV.

What are four television channels owned by Disney? ›

On October 8, 2018, Disney announced the division would be renamed Walt Disney Television following the completion of its acquisition of 21st Century Fox. The acquisition added 20th Century Fox Television, FX Networks and FX Productions, Fox 21 Television Studios, and National Geographic Partners to the division.

Why is DirecTV cutting out? ›

Check your internet or Wi-Fi® connection and test your signal strength using your remote: Press the Home button, then Settings > Help > Troubleshooting > Run Network Diagnostics. Try using an Ethernet cable to connect to your DIRECTV device instead of Wi-Fi. Check for DIRECTV device software updates.

Why can't I watch DirecTV? ›

Clear your cache or cookies. Use a different internet connection (Wi-Fi® or wired). Try another web browser or device.

Why is Disney no longer on Dish? ›

Disney Media and Entertainment said in a statement, “After months of negotiating in good faith, Dish has declined to reach a fair, market-based agreement with us for continued distribution of our networks

Why is ABC no longer on DirecTV? ›

Just before kickoff between LSU-USC, ABC went into a blackout for DirecTV users because of an ongoing carrier fee dispute between DirecTV and Disney — the parent company of ABC.

How to watch ESPN without DirecTV for free? ›

While ESPN+ doesn't currently offer a free trial, there are other streamers that offer ESPN online free. If you want access to ESPN and additional channels, you can take advantage of Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV and Fubo, which are all offering free trials or promos right now.

Can I watch ABC on Disney+? ›

Additionally, Disney+ is also launching a playlist focused on preschool content and will roll out four more curated playlists later this fall. Learn about those offerings here. Watch ABC News Live now on Disney+. Disney is the parent company of Disney+, ABC News Live and this station.

How can DirecTV customers watch ESPN? ›

DIRECTV subscribers can watch live ESPN content, select ESPN3 streaming content, and ESPN On Demand content with the interactive ESPN app. Access the ESPN sports app on your TV: Tune to any ESPN channel (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN NEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Deportes, Longhorn Network, & SEC Network).

Do you have to pay for ESPN on DirecTV? ›

To get ESPN and ESPN2 on DIRECTV, subscribe to any package starting with the ENTERTAINMENT package. To get ESPNU and ESPNews on DIRECTV, subscribe to the CHOICE package or above.

Is DirecTV raising prices in 2024? ›

DirecTV customers dealing with a blackout of Disney-owned channels ESPN and ABC will soon face another challenge – a higher bill. The company is raising prices for its satellite TV and streaming services effective Oct. 6, 2024. The new prices will go into effect on their next billing cycle.

What channel is DirecTV on for Disney? ›

Disney Channel Channel 290 HD Live on DIRECTV TV.

What channels are associated with Disney plus? ›

Disney+ is the streaming home for entertainment from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. From exclusive original content to the classic stories you know and love, Disney+ gives you access to thousands of titles for a high-quality viewing experience.

What channel did Disney buy? ›

Disney acquired most, but not all of the former 21st Century Fox. Disney got Fox's TV & film production studios and some of their cable channels. The biggest cable channel that Disney got from the deal is FX.

Does Disney still have a TV channel? ›

Disney Branded Television is an American television production company and a unit of Disney General Entertainment Content which oversees development, production and acquisition of content geared towards children, teenagers and families for Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney Jr. and Disney XD.

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