ESPN, ABC Return On DirecTV Blackout-Ending Deal With DIsney

Topline

Disney and DirecTV reached a crucial deal Saturday, effectively bringing back college football broadcasts for DirecTV customers who lost access to Disney networks like ABC and ESPN after the cable provider and Disney battled over a distribution agreement at the start of the month.

The blackout began Sept. 1. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

DirecTV’s 11.3 million customers were hit with a blackout on Sept. 1 after the company and Disney failed to come to a distribution agreement, cutting off their access to ESPN, ABC, FX and Disney Channel broadcasts that included college football and “Monday Night Football” among several other programs.

Disney and DIrecTV announced in a joint statement Saturday an agreement was finally reached and would make for the return of college football for DirecTV users ahead of Saturday’s slate of games.

The new distribution deal will also make Disney streaming services (Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+) and ESPN’s upcoming standalone streaming service available in select DirecTV packages.

The agreement also comes in time for DirecTV customers interested in watching the Emmy Awards, which will be broadcasted by ABC on Sunday night.

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What Is Espn’s New Streaming Service?

The streaming service will debut in 2025 and can be bundled with a Disney+ subscription. It will include fantasy sports features and give users live access to ESPN’s major offerings that will dwarf the content available on ESPN+.

Key Background

The disagreement between DirecTV and Disney resulting in the blackout stemmed from an increase in fees Disney sought for its popular channels and DirecTV’s “desire for more flexibility in how it sells those channels,” according to The Wall Street Journal. Both companies accused each other of stalling the agreement, with DirecTV going so far as to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission last week accusing DIsney of not negotiating in good faith. DirecTV Chief Marketing Officer Vince Torres said this week the number of lost customers during the disagreement was not “immaterial,” CNBC reported. The dispute’s end is a win for both sides, as college football games have the ability to draw in tens of millions of viewers. Last year’s Rose Bowl game between Michigan and Alabama generated viewership of 27.2 million.

Further Reading

DirecTV Without ABC And ESPN: Licensing Dispute With Disney Explained (Forbes)

ESPN’s New Standalone Streaming Service Will Be Available Through Disney+ In 2025 (Forbes)

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