All Channels Immediately Restored to DIRECTV Satellite, Streaming, and U-verse Customers

New, Robust Agreement Includes Disney’s Full Portfolio of Networks and Direct-to-Consumer Services, Genre-Specific Options, and ESPN’s Flagship Direct-to-Consumer Offering When It Launches in 2025

BURBANK, Calif. and EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 14, 2024 — DIRECTV and The Walt Disney Company today announced a preliminary agreement that provides more choice, value, and flexibility for their customers. All of Disney’s linear networks are now available to DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and U-verse customers while both companies finalize a new, long-term contract.

Key points of the agreement include:

• Continued carriage at market-based terms of Disney’s entertainment, sports, and news programming from its comprehensive linear portfolio, which includes the ABC Owned Television Stations, the ESPN networks, the Disney-branded channels, Freeform, the FX networks, and the National Geographic channels.
• The option to offer multiple genre-specific packages — sports, entertainment, kids & family — that include Disney’s linear networks along with Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+.
• Disney’s direct-to-consumer streaming services (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+) will be included in select DIRECTV packages under a wholesale agreement, and also available individually.
• The rights to distribute Disney’s upcoming ESPN flagship direct-to-consumer service at launch at no additional cost to DIRECTV customers.

In a joint statement, both companies said, “This unique collaboration allows DIRECTV and Disney to provide customers with more flexible options to customize their video viewing experience. DIRECTV and Disney have a long history of bringing consumers the best entertainment, and this agreement strengthens that commitment by acknowledging the value of Disney’s content and the changing preferences of DIRECTV customers. We appreciate the patience of all affected viewers and are pleased to restore Disney’s complete network lineup in time for college football and the Emmy Awards this weekend.”

About DIRECTV
For almost 30 years, DIRECTV has been a leader in sports and entertainment, providing industry-leading content, service, and customer satisfaction. DIRECTV’s mission is to aggregate, curate, and deliver exceptional, innovative service to its customers. In 2023, DIRECTV enhanced the customer experience by launching Gemini, which integrates customers’ content from their third-party platform subscriptions onto a single digital experience. With DIRECTV, the sports season never ends, and customers have access to several major sports, including the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and multiple domestic and international soccer leagues. DIRECTV gives customers the choice of watching sports, movies, and TV shows on their TVs at home or on their favorite mobile devices via the DIRECTV app.

About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media company that includes three core business segments: Entertainment, Sports and Experiences. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenues of $88.9 billion in its Fiscal Year 2023. 

SOURCE DIRECTV