DirectTV college football fans got an unwanted surprise on Sunday when Disney-owned channels, including ESPN, were taken off shortly before kickoff of the LSU vs. USC game.
The move comes after a distribution deal the two sides were negotiating fell apart, leaving DirectTV customers with a hard time ahead of one of the key games on the Week 1 college football schedule.
The hiatus comes as the U.S. Open is taking place in Queens, with games also being broadcast on ESPN, and the NFL season is set to kick off with the Jets and 49ers facing off on Monday Night Football on Sept. 9.
“With the U.S. Open approaching its final week and preparing for the start of the college football and NFL seasons, DirecTV has chosen to deny millions of subscribers access to our content,” ESPN said in a statement. “We are open to offering DirecTV the flexibility and terms we have offered other distributors, but we will not enter into any agreement that undervalues our portfolio of television channels and programming.”
“We are investing heavily to deliver the No. 1 brand in entertainment, news and sports that viewers expect and deserve. We urge DirecTV to do what is in the best interest of its customers and reach an agreement to bring back our programming immediately.”
The show's distributor disagreed. They issued their own statement to the Los Angeles Times.
“The Walt Disney Company is once again refusing to be accountable to consumers, its distribution partners and now the American justice system,” DirecTV chief content officer Rob Sun said in a statement to the outlet. “The company continues to pursue maximum profits and control at the expense of consumers, making it harder for them to choose the programming and sports they want at a fair price.”
Neither side is likely to receive any sympathy from consumers who tuned in to ESPN to watch the LSU-USC game and the U.S. Open, many of whom took to social media to air their frustration.
Disney was involved in another transportation dispute last year, this time with Charter Communications, which lasted 12 days before concluding on September 11, 2023.
“After ordering a huge delivery for friends to come to the LSU-USC game, @DIRECTV can't broadcast ABC and ESPN. I'm cancelling and switching to YouTube TV!” 1 person rages about X On Sunday night.
Another user posted a video of the network going dark midway through a match between Brandon Nakashima and Alexander Zverev at the U.S. Open.
“DirectTV and ESPN, what the hell,” the caption read.
Others demonized the timing.
“@direct “What you just did is disgusting – doing this to customers during a holiday weekend in the middle of the US Open, MLB and college football games with millions watching,” the source wrote.translation: “That's bad business for your customers.”
