Disney and DirecTV strike deal to restore ABC, ESPN and other networks
The satellite TV provider stopped airing the entertainment company’s channels on September 1, denying sports fans the ability to watch NFL games on a popular sports network’s ‘Monday Night Football’ and US Open tennis on a major broadcast network. More than 11 million subscribers had lost access to these stations during the dispute.
The companies expressed gratitude to affected viewers for their patience and announced the restoration of the entire portfolio of networks in time for college football and the Emmy Awards this weekend.
The new distribution deal will include new options for customers, such as packages that include popular streaming services. The satellite TV provider will also be able to distribute an upcoming standalone sports streaming service at no extra cost to its customers.
Both companies emphasized their appreciation for customers’ patience during the negotiation of this challenging but vital agreement, which now provides more flexibility and choice within a seamless entertainment experience.
Many distribution disputes can get ugly, but this one was particularly vicious. Last week, the satellite TV provider filed a complaint with a federal regulatory agency alleging the entertainment company did not negotiate in good faith.
Subscribers were denied coverage of the first ‘Monday Night Football’ game of the season between two teams in big markets that were blacked out from the sports network. To persuade customers to stay, the satellite TV provider struck deals with competing streaming services to offer its customers credits and discounts to sign up so people could watch the game.