The ongoing dispute between The Walt Disney Company and DirecTV could mean millions of households won't be able to watch next week's presidential debate on ABC, as the Disney-owned network is currently blacked out for DirecTV subscribers.
Disney and DirecTV have been battling over the terms of a broadcast deal that expired earlier in September, resulting in DirecTV subscribers losing access to Disney-owned channels like ABC, ESPN and FX.
DirecTV, owned by AT&T, has an estimated 11.3 million subscribers nationwide.
Negotiations were thought to be ongoing but no active discussions were taking place until Tuesday, the anonymous sources said. said deadline.
Additionally, DirecTV CEO Ray Carpenter reportedly downplayed expectations that there was a light at the end of the tunnel, saying “we're not in the short term game,” during a conference call on Tuesday.
That could be bad news for ABC, which is hoping for a big ratings boost from the first televised matchup between former President Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
ABC will broadcast the debate on September 10 at 9pm ET from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
It is unclear whether ABC News will stream the debate on its official website, as CNN did with the Trump-Biden debate.
The rules for next week's debate mean there will be no live studio audience, candidates will not be allowed to bring notes, and each candidate's microphone will only be turned on when it is their turn to speak.
Kamala Harris tried to bend the rules at the last minute, with some speculating she was trying to stage another “I'm talking!” Girlboss moment, but her campaign ultimately caved after Trump refused to concede, as Breitbart News reported.
The debate will be the first standalone, unscripted, televised event since Kamala Harris became the party's nominee.
To date, she has refused to hold a press conference or give live interviews in what many see as a concerted effort by Democratic leaders to protect her from tough questions about the record consumer price increases and unprecedented levels of illegal immigration that have occurred under her watch.
Follow David Ng on Twitter HelloHave a tip? Let us know at dng@breitbart.com.
