Disney Networks Go Dark On DirecTV In Carriage Dispute
deadline.comDisney‘s networks, including ABC and ESPN, have gone dark across DirecTV, beginning another major carriage impasse in the challenged pay-TV business.
The dispute between the companies had been intensifying in recent days despite the parties being at the table negotiating ahead of Sunday’s expiration of their current contract.
DirecTV has shrunk in recent years, but it remains a leading operator, with about 11 million subscribers across traditional satellite, cable and the internet-delivered DirecTV Stream service. “Our contract with Disney, the provider of this channel, has expired,” a message to viewers read on the affected networks. “We appreciate your patience while we negotiate to offer you greater choice, flexibility and value.” Disney provided Deadline with a joint statement from its entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman as well as ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “DirecTV chose to deny millions of subscribers access to our content just as we head into the final week of the U.S.
Open and gear up for college football and the opening of the NFL season,” the execs said. “While we’re open to offering DirecTV flexibility and terms which we’ve extended to other distributors, we will not enter into an agreement that undervalues our portfolio of television channels and programs.
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