NC Governor tells DirecTV, Disney to “resolve this dispute”
In a letter sent to DirecTV, Disney and ESPN, North Carolina Roy Cooper said the ongoing dispute involving channels like ESPN, ABC and FX is unacceptable.
2024 DirecTV-Disney Dispute
The 2024 DirecTV-Walt Disney Company Programming Dispute is a prolonged blackout of Disney-owned television channels on DirecTV’s satellite and streaming platforms and on U-Verse (formerly AT&T U-Verse).
The situation began on September 1, 2024 after a contractual agreement between Disney and DirecTV for the carriage of certain channels expired. Without a new agreement in place, Disney exercised its legal right to prevent DirecTV from redistributing its channels, effectively leaving millions of pay TV subscribers without access to ESPN, FX, Freeform, National Geographic, the Disney Channel and related cable networks.
The dispute also prevented DirecTV via Satellite and DirecTV via Internet customers from accessing ABC-owned broadcast stations in eight metropolitan areas, and DirecTV Stream and U-Verse customers from having access to more than 200 ABC stations and independently-owned network affiliates across the country.
An earlier decision by Disney to participate in a joint venture called Venu Sports is seen as a key element that triggered the programming dispute with DirecTV.
DirecTV tells customers to use Sling, Fubo for football, tennis
With channels like ESPN and ABC unavailable to DirecTV and U-Verse subscribers, the company is pointing customers to some of its competitors.
DirecTV sends letters to college sports conferences about Disney dispute
The company recently sent letters to leaders at the SEC, ACC and Big 12 Conference, whose games are distributed by ESPN and ABC.
Dispute between Disney, DirecTV impacting bars, government agencies
Tens of thousands of DirecTV for Business customers, including bars and restaurants, may not have access to ESPN and ABC for weeks during football season. Government agencies that rely on DirecTV as a lifeline during emergencies may suffer, too.
DirecTV exec warns ESPN blackout could affect football season
Bars, restaurants and hotels with DirecTV for Business service may not be able to offer “Monday Night Football” from ESPN.
DirecTV’s dispute with Disney feels different because it is different
For years, carriage disputes have centered around fees paid by cable and satellite companies to programmers. Now, distributors are redrawing the battle lines.
DirecTV exec accuses programmers of ‘posturing’ as Disney blackout looms
Exclusive: DirecTV’s Chief Programming Officer Rob Thun said the development of Venu Sports proves broadcasters are ready to embrace genre-based channel bundles, and they should afford that opportunity to other distributors, too.