DirecTV subscribers wanting to watch the LSU-USC football game on ABC, Braves-Phillies on ESPN, or US Open tennis on ESPN2 were left frustrated on Sunday night as the satellite TV provider pulled coverage in a carriage dispute with Disney.
Disney channels went dark on the service just after 7 p.m. ET, less than a half-hour before LSU and USC were scheduled to kick off from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Fans in markets where ABC is not on a Disney-owned channel are still able to watch network coverage. However, ABC owns stations in large markets including the four largest in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia.
All Disney channels on DirecTV are dark right now, including ABC in markets where Disney owns the channel.
DirecTV subscribers in markets where other companies own the ABC affiliate have not experienced any disruption. https://t.co/l7V27jf5x2
— John Ourand (@Ourand_Puck) September 1, 2024
Several subscribers on social media showed their ability to watch programming cut as events were ongoing.
“DirecTV chose to deny millions of subscribers access to our content just as we had into the final week of the US Open and gear up for college football and the opening of the NFL season,” said a statement from The Walt Disney Company and ESPN shortly after the channels went dark.”
“While we’re open to offering DirecTV flexibility and terms which we’ve extended to other distrbutors, we will not enter into an agreement that undervalues our portfolio of television channels and programs.”
The US Open also released a statement to fans unable to watch ESPN’s coverage due to the carriage dispute.
“It is disappointing that fans and viewers around the country will not have the opportunity to watch the greatest athletes in our sport take part in the 2024 US Open due to an unresolved negotiation between DirecTV and Disney, resulting in the loss of access to ESPN,” the statement read. “We are hopeful that this dispute can be resolved as quickly as possible.”
This is a breaking news story that will be updated.
