DirecTV and Disney have finally reached a new deal after a nearly two-week blackout that left millions of viewers without access to ESPN and ABC-owned stations. The agreement came just in time for sports fans to catch college football games on ESPN and the upcoming Emmy Awards on ABC.
The blackout affected DirecTV’s 11 million subscribers, who were unable to watch popular channels like ESPN, ABC, FX, and National Geographic. The dispute was over carriage fees and programming flexibility, but the specifics of the financial agreement between Disney and DirecTV were not disclosed.
The end of the blackout means that viewers in major markets like the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, and Chicago can once again access ABC programming. This includes highly anticipated events like the Emmy Awards and popular sports broadcasts on ESPN.
Impact on Viewers
Many viewers were caught off guard when ESPN suddenly went dark during the U.S. Open tennis tournament and missed out on the season opener of Monday Night Football. The blackout left sports fans frustrated and disappointed, but the new deal between DirecTV and Disney has restored access to these channels just in time for the fall sports season.
Details of the Agreement
The agreement between DirecTV and Disney allows DirecTV to offer Disney’s video streaming services both a la carte and in bundled packages. This means that subscribers will have more options for accessing Disney content, including ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service.
One of the key points of the deal is that DirecTV’s payments to Disney will be based on “market-based” pricing. This ensures that both parties are fairly compensated for the content that is being provided to DirecTV subscribers.
Resolution of Tensions
The resolution of the blackout comes after rising tensions between DirecTV and Disney, which led DirecTV to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission accusing Disney of negotiating in bad faith. This is not the first time that Disney has faced disputes over the rights to its programming, as a similar situation occurred last year with Spectrum, the second-largest cable TV provider in the U.S.
Overall, the new deal between DirecTV and Disney is a win for viewers who can now access their favorite channels once again. The agreement also paves the way for future collaborations between the two companies, including the inclusion of ESPN’s streaming service in DirecTV’s offerings.
