:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1950704606-61632e128cdc4f54966ed94c4f49a972.jpg "Disney and DirecTV Reach Deal Ending Blackout Ahead of Monday Night Football")
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Key Takeaways
- DirecTV and Disney reached an agreement over the weekend to bring Disney-owned channels back to DirecTV’s 11 million subscribers.
- The sides had been in the midst of a contract dispute since a previous deal expired earlier this month, taking Disney’s channels off the air.
- The deal came in time for the weekend’s college football broadcasts, along with Monday night’s NFL game featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons.
Fans of football and award shows were able to breathe a sigh of relief over the weekend, as DirecTV and Disney (DIS) agreed to a distribution deal Saturday, bringing Disney-owned channels back to DirecTV subscribers.
The timing of the agreement meant that roughly 11 million Americans had access to ESPN, ABC, National Geographic, and other channels returned ahead of college football, Sunday’s Emmy Awards broadcast, and Monday Night Football featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons.
DirecTV Will Be Able To Market Disney Streaming
As part of the new contract, DirecTV will be able to offer subscribers access to genre-specific packages like sports or family programming through Disney’s channels, along with access to Disney’s streaming services in Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+.
“Through this first-of-its-kind collaboration, DIRECTV and Disney are giving customers the ability to tailor their video experience through more flexible options,” the companies said in a statement. “DIRECTV and Disney have a long-standing history of connecting consumers to the best entertainment, and this agreement furthers that commitment by recognizing both the tremendous value of Disney’s content and the evolving preferences of DIRECTV’s customers.”