DirecTV, Disney Settle Dispute, Bringing Back Popular Channels Like ESPN and ABC

Disney and DirecTV have agreed to a new deal that will bring back popular channels like ESPN and ABC to DirecTV. This is great news for DirecTV's 11 million customers, who have been missing out on big events like Monday Night Football and the US Open tennis tournament for the past two weeks.

New Deal Ends Disney Channel Blackout

The agreement was reached just in time for fans to watch college football on ESPN and the Emmy Awards, which will be shown on Disney's ABC network. Disney and DirecTV said they are happy to offer these channels again and are committed to providing great entertainment for viewers, according to the New York Times.

The problem started when Disney and DirecTV couldn't agree on how much DirecTV should pay for Disney's TV channels. Disney wanted high fees for its channels, while DirecTV thought the prices should be lower. This disagreement led to the blackout of Disney channels.

Under the new deal, DirecTV will also offer Disney's streaming services, like Disney+, as part of special packages. This is similar to what other TV companies have done recently.

The blackout highlighted the challenges faced by satellite TV companies like DirecTV, which don't have broadband internet to support their services. Now, DirecTV customers can watch Disney Channel, Freeform, FX networks, and National Geographic channels again.

DirecTV Prepares for Possible Merger with Dish Network

There are also rumors that DirecTV might merge with Dish Network, another TV provider, which could change the way satellite TV works in the future.

Both Disney and DirecTV thanked their viewers for being patient during the blackout and promised that all Disney channels would be back in time for important events this weekend.

During the blackout, DirecTV customers missed out on important shows and events, including a presidential debate hosted by ABC. Disney channels were unavailable since September 1 due to the failed negotiations, said Reuters.

Now, DirecTV customers can choose special packages that include sports or family programming and add Disney's streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+.

The two-week blackout led to a drop in DirecTV's customer base, similar to a past dispute between Disney and another TV provider. In that case, some channels were temporarily unavailable, but Disney+ and ESPN+ were later offered for free in certain packages.