While the dispute between DirecTV and Disney continues and ESPN and other networks are blocked from subscribers, college and professional football schedules continue to roll so you don’t miss the action.
DirecTV users lose access to ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels due to contract dispute
DirecTV and Disney were unable to reach an agreement over the weekend, after which Disney removed channels from the platform.
Scripps News
With the NFL season starting on Thursday, another competition is taking place that affects 11 million television viewers who will be unable to watch certain sporting events and other programs.
DirecTV and Disney are negotiating a new deal that will allow DirecTV’s satellite and streaming services – and AT&T’s U-Verse TV – to carry ESPN, the Disney Channel, FX and other Disney networks and channels.
All of these channels were shut down on Sunday, September 1, when DirecTV’s five-year contract with Disney expired. Currently, DirecTV subscribers cannot watch these channels, as well as ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU, ESPN News, ACC Network, SEC Network, Disney Junior and National Geographic.
Also blocked: eight Disney-owned ABC channels, including channels in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco.
Talks are ongoing, but unless a solution is reached, sports fans will miss a number of broadcast events in the coming days.
The final rounds of the US Open tennis tournament begin with the women’s semifinals on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The men’s semifinals are scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. ET. The women’s finals are on Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPN. The men’s finals are on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on ABC.
Dispute between DirecTV and Disney: DirecTV subscribers can receive a $20 credit for blocking Disney/ESPN. How to apply
What NFL and college football games are coming up on ESPN?
Upcoming college football games on ESPN and the Disney-owned networks on Saturday, September 7 (all times Eastern Time):
- Midday: Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State (ABC and ESPN+), Kansas State vs. Tulane (ESPN), Georgia Tech vs. Syracuse (ACC Network), Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati (ESPN2), Troy vs. Memphis (ESPNU).
- 12:45 p.m.: McNeese vs. Texas A&M (SEC Network)
- 3:30 p.m.: California vs. Auburn (ESPN2)
- 3:30 p.m.: South Carolina vs. Kentucky (ABC and ESPN+)
- 4 p.m.: University of Texas-San Antonio vs. Texas State (ESPNU)
- 16:15: Middle Tennessee vs. Mississippi (SEC Network)
- 7pm: South Florida vs. Alabama (ESPN)
- 7pm: Virginia vs. Wake Forest (ESPN2)
- 19:30: Tennessee vs. NC State (ABC and ESPN+) and Houston vs. Oklahoma (SEC Network)
- 8pm: Appalachian State vs. Clemson (ACC Network)
- 10:15 p.m.: Liberty vs. New Mexico State (ESPN2)
- 10:30 p.m.: Mississippi State vs. Arizona State (ESPN)
NFL: Upcoming games on Disney-owned channels include:
- Monday, September 9: New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers at 8:20 p.m. on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+; the ManningCast with Peyton and Eli Manning will air on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
- Monday, September 16: Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles (ESPN); ManningCast on ESPN2. (Note: not planned for ESPN+).
DirecTV Disney lockout: How can subscribers watch ESPN and other sports channels?
If you want to watch upcoming college football and NFL games on ESPN and its networks, you have several options:
- ESPN+: You can purchase the streaming service as a standalone subscription for $10.99 per month. You can also purchase it as part of a Disney service bundle with Disney+ and Hulu starting at $14.99 per month.
- Fubo: This streaming service, which includes ESPN and local channels including ABC (where available), offers a seven-day free trial. After that, it costs $49.99 for the first month and $79.99 per month after that. This basic Pro plan gets you at least 185 live channels, including ESPN2, ACC Network Disney, Disney JR., Disney XD, Freeform FX, FXX and National Geographic. The Elite package with Sports Plus ($69.99 the first month; $99.99 monthly after that) gets you ESPNU, ESPNews, SEC Network and NFL RedZone.
- Hulu + Live TV: This Disney-owned streaming service offers a three-day trial and starts at $76.99 monthly for more than 95 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, ACC Network, SEC Network, Disney, Disney JR., Disney XD, Freeform FX, FXX, FX Movies, National Geographic, National Geographic Wild. The $76.99 plan also gets you Disney+ (with ads) and ESPN+ (with ads). You also get access to the Hulu streaming service, which offers original programming like Only Murders in the Building. You can pay more to avoid ads and get additional channels like NFL RedZone.
- Sling TV: Sling Orange (no free trial, $15 first month, then $40 monthly) has 35 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3, Disney Channel, and Freeform. But sports fans will likely want to add Sling Blue and the Sports Extra package ($45 first month, then $70 monthly), which gets you up to 74 channels, including ACC Network, ESPNU, ESPNews, the SEC Network, NFL RedZone, and local Fox and NBC networks (where available).
- YouTube TV: The streaming service is currently offering a “3-week free trial” deal on its website, after which the basic YouTube TV plan costs $64.99 per month for the first four months. In the fifth month, the price increases to $72.99. YouTube TV has more than 100 channels, including the banned ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, Disney Channel, Disney Jr., Disney XC, FX, FXM, FXX, Freeform, ACC Network, SEC Network, National Geographic, and National Geographic Wild (plus local ABC channels, which are also banned in 9 cities).
- Try a digital antenna: Getting ESPN+ or the Disney package isn’t a panacea, as the app doesn’t stream every event on ESPN’s lineup, Ross Benes, senior TV and streaming analyst at eMarketer, told USA TODAY. However, with a digital antenna, you can get ABC and other major networks on your digital TV for free. However, he said, “not only do you have to buy the antenna, you have to put it near a window or outside, point it in the direction of the station, hope you’re in range of the signal and that there’s nothing blocking your broadcast.”
The easiest — if more expensive — option is probably to subscribe to a live streaming TV service like Fubo or YouTube TV, he said. “But beware, even with digital cable, there can be disputes over broadcast,” he said. “With digital cable, you have more flexibility when your sports season is over or when channels drop.”
When will the dispute between DirecTV and Disney end?
There’s no telling. Both sides told USA TODAY that talks are active and ongoing, but fierce public attacks suggest the conflict isn’t going to end anytime soon.
DirecTV Chief Financial Officer Ray Carpenter told analysts on a conference call Tuesday that DirecTV had asked Disney to allow viewers to watch Sunday night’s USC-LSU football game, but instead “maintained a hostile attitude toward our customers” and demanded the blocking.
Disney and ESPN executives accused DirecTV of “continuing to misrepresent the facts surrounding our ongoing negotiations,” including saying that DirecTV would waive all future legal claims against Disney in order to reach a settlement.
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