Disney’s streaming services, Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, will also be included in certain DirecTV packages. | Photo: Shutterstock
Walt Disney and DirecTV announced Saturday that they have reached an agreement in principle, allowing the satellite television provider’s more than 11 million subscribers to once again broadcast American football and other college programs.
The deal will give satellite TV subscribers more choice and flexibility, the companies said in a joint statement. DirecTV customers lost access to ABC, ESPN and other Disney networks on Sept. 1 after the two sides reached an impasse in renewal talks.
DirecTV may offer several genre-specific programming packages, including packages focused on sports, entertainment, children, and families.
Disney’s streaming services, Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, will also be included in select DirecTV packages.
“DirecTV and Disney have a long history of connecting consumers to the best entertainment. This agreement reinforces that commitment by recognizing both the tremendous value of Disney’s content and the evolving preferences of DIRECTV’s customers,” the companies said in a statement.
The dispute left DirecTV subscribers without access to popular programming, including ESPN’s broadcasts of American football games and the US Open tennis tournament.
DirecTV subscribers were also unable to watch the ABC News-presented U.S. presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump on the ABC broadcast network.
Vince Torres, DirecTV’s chief marketing officer, said in a speech Thursday at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference in San Francisco that the programming freeze is costing subscribers of the satellite TV service money.
Disney and DirecTV reached a deal ahead of Sunday’s Emmy Awards broadcast on ABC, putting the media giant on track for historic wins thanks to three of the year’s most-nominated series: “Shogun,” “The Bear” and “Only Murders in the Building.”
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been edited by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First publication: Sep 14, 2024 | 8:07 PM IST