Disney’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.
More from Deadline
“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. We invest significantly to deliver the No. 1 brands in entertainment, news and sports because that’s what our viewers expect and deserve. We urge DirecTV to do what’s in the best interest of their customers and finalize a deal that would immediately restore our programming.”
In its statement, DirecTV charged Disney with opting out of a potential renewal moments before a prime-time college football game between USC and LSU. As the U.S. Open tennis tournament continues on ESPN and ABC, other marquee programming coming soon includes the kickoff of Monday Night Football on September 9 and the presidential debate hosted by ABC on September 12.
“The Walt Disney Co. is once again refusing any accountability to consumers, distribution partners, and now the American judicial system,” said Rob Thun, chief content officer at DirecTV. “Disney is in the business of creating alternate realities, but this is the real world where we believe you earn your way and must answer for your own actions. They want to continue to chase maximum profits and dominant control at the expense of consumers – making it harder for them to select the shows and sports they want at a reasonable price.”