Disney Alerts DIRECTV Viewers an ESPN Blackout Could Happen Today

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow me on X.

Disney last night began alerting DIRECTV’s viewers that they could soon lose its channels, including ESPN, if the companies do not agree to a new carriage agreement. An on-screen message posted by Disney during an ESPN college football game did not say when the channels could be blacked out, but the current carriage agreement ends today.

In addition to the on-screen message, Disney launched a web site, Keepmynetworks.com, which explains which channels could be removed.

“We’re working hard to make sure some of America’s most-watched stations and networks including programming from your local ABC station, the ESPN networks, including the ACC Network and the SEC Network, the Disney-branded channels, Freeform, the FX networks and the National Geographic channels stay available to DIRECTV customers,” the site states. “If we don’t reach a new agreement with DIRECTV soon, some of your favorite shows may be gone from your lineup, including SportsCenter and exclusive live sports such as ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, College Football and Monday Night Football plus Shōgun, Welcome to Wrexham, Mickey Mouse Funhouse, Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog, OceanXplorers and much more. Contact DIRECTV and let them know you want to keep these networks.”

DIRECTV also posted an on-screen message last night which urged viewers to go to its web site, TVPromise.com, to learn more about the dispute. At that site, DIRECTV had posted the following statement:

“We’re working with Disney to provide greater flexibility, choice, and value while protecting your ability to watch your favorite shows and sports within a single experience.”

DIRECTV also set up a new site for the dispute, called UnbundleDisney.com, which explains its call for greater flexibility in providing Disney’s channels. The satcaster says it wants to offer the channels in smaller packages rather than in a single bundle that all subscribers must get. “Programmers like Disney want you to pay for all their networks even if you don’t want them,” the site states.

A top Disney executive this week offered a bleak assessment of his company’s carriage talks with DIRECTV, telling The Wrap on Thursday night that there’s a “fairly sizable gap” between the two sides.

If there is a blackout, it would also affect DIRECTV Stream, DIRECTV Via Satellite and U-verse.

The Disney basic cable channels that could be blacked out are: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU, ESPN News, SEC Network, ACC Network, FX, FX Movie Channel, FXX, Freeform, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Mundo, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, and BabyTV.

In addition, the following Disney-owned local networks could be removed: ABC7 Chicago, ABC7 Los Angeles, ABC7 New York, ABC7 San Francisco, ABC11 Raleigh-Durham, ABC13 Houston, Philadelphia 6ABC, and ABC30 Fresno. It’s also possible the DIRECTV streaming services would lose all ABC stations.

The TV Answer Man will monitor this situation and report back here if anything significant changes.

The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.