Just five days after DirecTV filed a formal FCC complaint accusing The Walt Disney Company of negotiating in bad faith, the two parties have reached an agreement that will bring Disney networks back to millions of customers.
Disney and DirecTV Reach Agreement
Variety reports that, as of September 14, DirecTV and The Walt Disney Company have reached an agreement that will allow DirecTV to continue carrying Disney’s entertainment, sports, and news networks. This officially brings to an end a two-week contract dispute, which made Disney networks unavailable to over 11 million customers for the first half of September.
As part of the deal, DirecTV can offer genre-specific packages that include Disney’s networks and streaming services. This means that in addition to channels like ABC, ESPN, and National Geographic, Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ will be included as part of select DirecTV options.
The two companies released the following joint statement:
Through this first-of-its-kind collaboration, DIRECTV and Disney are giving customers the ability to tailor their video experience through more flexible options. 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. We’d like to thank all affected viewers for their patience and are pleased to restore Disney’s entire portfolio of networks in time for college football and the Emmy Awards this weekend.
Are you happy that the two companies have reached an agreement? Were you affected by the contract dispute? Let us know in the comments.
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