Disney and DirecTV have come to an agreement, bringing back Disney-owned channels to over 10 million subscribers after a lengthy blackout.
The agreement, announced in a joint statement by both companies, restores networks like ABC, ESPN, and other Disney properties to DirectTV, U-Verse, and DirecTV Stream customers. This comes just in time for important broadcasts such as the 76th Emmy Awards and ESPN’s college football games.
The deal allows DirecTV to offer specialized packages including sports, entertainment, and kids & family that feature Disney’s linear networks. It also permits certain DirecTV packages to include Disney’s streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+.
Financial details were not disclosed, but DirecTV’s payments to Disney will be based on “market-based” pricing. With 11.3 million subscribers, DirecTV is the third-largest pay TV provider in the US.
The blackout, starting on Sept. 1, prompted DirecTV to offer $30 credits to customers to prevent cancellations. The agreement was reached after tensions led DirecTV to file a complaint with the FCC, alleging Disney was negotiating in bad faith.
DirecTV claimed Disney’s demands for a waiver of legal claims on anticompetitive actions were a violation of FCC good faith mandates. Disney argued that the mutual release of claims is standard practice.
Negotiations are ongoing to fully restore access to content. Disney urged DirecTV to prioritize customers and finalize a deal for upcoming programming, starting with Monday Night Football. Can you rewrite this sentence for me?
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