AT&T and Disney Avoid Blackout, As New Deal For ESPN, Disney, Freeform Appears Imminent For DIRECTV & AT&T TV NOW
Earlier in the week, DIRECTV and AT&T TV NOW customers were greeted with a message that they might lose ESPN, Disney Channel, and Freeform. After last night’s midnight deadline passed, the channels remained up on the service as the two sides continued to negotiate with a temporary extension in place.
But good news for sports fans, who were to miss this weekend’s games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ACC Network, SEC Network, and Longhorn Network. While neither side has confirmed, it appears that Disney and AT&T have reached a new deal which will continue to see DIRECTV, AT&T TV, and AT&T TV NOW carry Disney-owned channels.
The phone number to leave complaints is no longer active — and the website that Disney had been directing customers to, no longer mentions the dispute. In fact, it now actively promotes that AT&T carries the channels around the country.
Full List of Disney-Owned Channels
- ABC O&O Locals
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPNU
- ESPN Classic
- ESPNews
- ESPN3
- ESPN Goal Line
- ESPN Bases Loaded
- SEC Network
- ACC Network
- The Longhorn Network
- Disney Channel
- Disney XD
- Disney Junior
- Freeform
The two sides reached a last minute deal similar to deals with Viacom and A+E in the Spring. The service renegotiated deals with Viacom and A+E.
But all negotiations haven’t gone as well. Earlier this year, AT&T dropped NFL Network from AT&T TV NOW and AT&T U-Verse. Then this summer, CBS was dropped in major markets on DirecTV and nationally on DIRECTV NOW (now known as AT&T TV NOW). Prior to that, Nexstar, the largest local affiliate owner, had their channels dropped DirecTV, DIRECTV NOW, and AT&T U-Verse. While both have since come to a deal, AT&T has been embroiled in content disputes since early July.