Those looking to tune into Sunday night’s heavyweight matchup between No. 12 LSU and No. 23 USC on DirecTV were greeted with an unexpected welcome just before kickoff: a blackout.
Due to an ongoing dispute regarding carrier fees between Disney and DirecTV, the game was dropped from ABC in certain markets. That means DirecTV users in markets where Disney owns the channel won’t be able to watch the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic on cable.
In addition, the blackout also applies to all Disney-owned channels, including ESPN, ESPN2 and other channels in the ESPN family of networks.
REQUIRED READING: LSU vs USC score today: Live updates, highlights from Week 1 game
Here’s what you need to know the dispute between DirecTV and Disney:
Why are ABC, ESPN not working on DirecTV?
Just before kickoff between LSU and USC, ABC went into a blackout for DirecTV users in various markets because of an ongoing carrier fee dispute between DirecTV and Disney, the parent company of ABC. The blackout went into effect shortly after 7 p.m. ET, just as a broadcast of the U.S. Open was finishing up on ESPN.
As previously reported by USA TODAY, DirecTV is looking for “smaller, more tailored packages at prices that reflect value to consumers” per a statement from DirecTV’s chief content officer, Rob Thun, last week prior to the start of college football.
“DirecTV has not yet reached an agreement with Disney. This means Disney-owned channels, including local ABC stations in eight markets, ESPN, and other general entertainment and regional sports channels are currently unavailable,” DirecTV Help wrote in a reply on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.
Watch LSU vs. USC football live on ESPN+
Disney Statement on ABC blackout
Disney issued a lengthy statement in regard to the current blackout of the ESPN family of networks on Sunday:
“DirecTV chose to deny millions of subscribers access to our content just as we head into the final week of the US Open and gear up for college football and the opening of the NFL season. 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.”
Via Front Office Sports:
Disney’s ESPN and ABC have gone dark for DirecTV subscribers amidst an ongoing carriage dispute.
The US Open is currently happening live, and USC is playing at LSU in prime time.
Statement from Disney: pic.twitter.com/Gxt0DxaYTr
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 1, 2024
Watch LSU vs. USC football live with Fubo (free trial)
DirecTV statement on ABC blackout
DirecTV released the following statement on X (formerly Twitter) Sunday night:
“Just hours before Disney pulled its programming from millions of DirecTV customers, they demanded that to reach any licensing agreement or extend access to its programming, DirecTV must agree to waive all claims that Disney’s behavior is anti-competitive,” the statement read.
Just hours before Disney pulled its programming from millions of DIRECTV customers, they demanded that to reach any licensing agreement or extend access to its programming, DIRECTV must agree to waive all claims that Disney’s behavior is anti-competitive. https://t.co/ddtshPrwcE
— DIRECTV News (@DIRECTVnews) September 1, 2024
When reached for comment by the USA TODAY Network, DirecTV provided the following statement from Thun:
“The Walt Disney Co. is once again refusing any accountability to consumers, distribution partners, and now the American judicial system,” Thun said. “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.”
“Consumer frustration is at an all-time high as Disney shifts its best producers, most innovative shows, top teams, conferences, and entire leagues to their direct-to-consumer services while making customers pay more than once for the same programming on multiple Disney platforms,” Thun continued. “Disney’s only magic is forcing prices to go up while simultaneously making its content disappear.”
ESPN statement on DirecTV-Disney dispute
Below is a joint statement from Dana Walden and Alan Bergman — co-chairmen of Disney Entertainment — and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro on the ongoing dispute between Disney and DirecTV.
“DirecTV chose to deny millions of subscribers access to our content just as we head into the final week of the US Open and gear up for college football and the opening of the NFL season. 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.”
What channels are affected?
The entire ESPN family of networks — ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ACC Network and SEC Network — are being affected by the blackout. Moreover, DirecTV viewers in eight markets where Disney owns ABC will be unable to watch the station.
The ABC network is owned by Disney in the following markets:
How to watch LSU-USC football during DirecTV blackout
You can stream LSU-USC on ESPN+ or on Fubo, which carries ABC and offers a free trial to select users.
This story will be updated
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ABC not working on DirecTV: What to know as Disney, TV provider dispute
