DirecTV and Disney contract update: Broadcasting giants reach landmark agreement in Week 3 of college football
DirecTV and The Walt Disney Co. have been engaged in tough negotiations with one another over a contract as two weeks ago their five-year contract expired. DirecTV would see channels like ESPN, Disney Channel, and the SEC/ACC Networks suddenly go dark and college football fans would not be able to see some of the top matchups.
This saw about 11 million subscribers to DirecTV services be in the dark and not able to watch the following sports channels:
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPNU
- ESPN News
- ACC Network
- SEC Network
However, as per USA Today, ahead of Week 3 of the 2024 college football season, the two sides have agreed to a deal. DirecTV customers could finally watch all the channels and as a result, see all the incredible college football action they have been deprived of during the contract negotiations.
The terms of the deal have not been publicly disclosed. However, in a joint statement, the companies said:
"Through this first-of-its-kind collaboration, DIRECTV and Disney are giving customers the ability to tailor their video experience through more flexible options"
What does this deal between Disney and DirecTV mean for college football going forward?
The deal between DirecTV and Disney shows more than just a deal between a television company and a media company. It shows that these providers are desperate to keep people's attention on their platforms. One of the biggest ratings on a weekly basis is sports and football, in general.
Losing access to ESPN and some of the other channels under the Disney umbrella makes the DirecTV product less valuable for college sports fans in particular.
This could continue to happen as Disney and other companies that hold the rights to major conferences or leagues could continue to ask for more money or even put it behind a paywall, similar to ESPN+ or what the MLS does with Apple TV+.
For some people, the idea of losing ESPN and the Disney properties are not that much. However, for avid sports fans, particularly those of the Atlantic Coast and SEC that have dedicated channels under the Disney umbrella, this makes the media rights holders more powerful to the television properties like DirecTV.