DirecTV and Disney Reach “First-Of-Its-Kind” Deal That Ends Blackout, Restoring ESPN and More to 11 Million Subscribers

DirecTV and Disney have agreed to restore ESPN and other Disney-owned channels to DirecTV customers following a two-week blackout. Disney networks went dark on September 1 after both parties disagreed on fees and bundle structures, impacting DirecTV’s 11 million customers during major sporting events like the U.S. Open and “Monday Night Football.” The new agreement offers “market-based terms” on pricing and allows DirecTV to provide genre-specific packages. Both companies described the collaboration as a “first-of-its-kind” for offering flexible video options.