Another long-running network dispute has come to an end, now that Disney and DirecTV have reached an agreement.
The new long-term agreement resolves a dispute that left more than 11 million DirecTV subscribers without access to Disney networks for 13 days. Service will be restored Saturday before the start of the first college football games.
A statement from Disney sent out Saturday morning outlines some of the terms of the deal, including the return of Disney-owned channels like ABC, ESPN, Disney, Freeform, FX and more for John Ourand of PuckIt is worth noting that DirecTV will include ESPN at no additional cost to subscribers.
Additionally, DirecTV will offer several specific “simple” packages tied to Disney networks, such as a sports package, an entertainment package, a kids and family package, in addition to the Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ package. The ability to create these smaller, genre-specific packages was one of the sticking points that led to the shutdown, according to CNBC.
The blackout began on Sept. 1, when Disney networks stopped carrying DirecTV’s service as contract negotiations became complicated. The blackout left DirecTV subscribers unable to watch several major events to start the season, including the U.S. Open, the first two weeks of college football and the first kickoff of the NFL’s Monday Night Football.
The two companies were initially unable to agree on terms of the deal, but were able to work things out Saturday in time for a busy sports weekend. Disney-affiliated networks (including ABC, ESPN and ESPN+) will feature more than 30 college football games on Saturday; Monday Night Football will feature the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles.
Disney had a Similar dispute with Charter Spectrum last September, leaving subscribers (and tennis players) was unable to watch events like the US Open, but resolved the issue after 12 days.
