DirecTV subscribers in Louisville are currently unable to access a range of channels owned by Disney, following a failure to reach a new contract agreement before a deadline on Sunday night. As a result, fans may miss out on college football games aired on ESPN and various movies available on FX.
Key details about the DirecTV-Disney standoff include a statement from Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, along with ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, who highlighted the unfortunate timing for viewers. They emphasized their willingness to negotiate flexibly, but stated they would not agree to terms that undervalue their channel offerings. The statement underscored their commitment to providing high-quality entertainment, news, and sports that viewers expect.
DirecTV’s Chief Content Officer, Rob Thun, indicated that one of Disney’s demands included waiving any legal claims regarding the perceived anti-competitive nature of their practices, suggesting that Disney has concerns about potential antitrust issues. Recently, a federal judge halted the launch of Venu, a joint venture streaming service by Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, citing possible anti-competitive implications.
Thun criticized Disney’s approach, stating that they prefer creating tailored programming packages rather than forcing consumers to pay for extensive bundles filled with unwanted channels. He accused Disney of pursuing maximum profits at the cost of consumer choice and affordability.
As negotiations advanced, both companies attempted to sway public opinion in their favor. DirecTV sent alerts to subscribers watching ESPN, warning them of potential service loss and directing them to KeepMyESPN.com for more information. Conversely, Disney’s website touted its successful track record in negotiations with various distribution partners.
The future of negotiations remains uncertain. Last year, a similar dispute between Disney and Charter Communications resulted in nearly a two-week blackout of channels. As of now, Thun reported that no discussions are occurring.
During the current dispute, DirecTV subscribers have lost access to several channels, including:
– Disney Channel
– ESPN networks (including ACC and SEC networks)
– Freeform
– FX
– FXX
– National Geographic