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Disney, DirecTV Offering $30 Credits to Satellite Subs as Carriage Dispute Enters Second Football Weekend
September 6, 2024
With the second weekend for college football, and the first for the National Football League, kicking off with no resolution in the Disney/DirecTV carriage dispute, both companies are offering the satellite TV operator’s 11 million paid subscribers $30 credits to explore third-party streaming options to access the football games.
Disney is offering the $30 rebate to DirecTV subscribers who try online pay-TV service Hulu + Live TV.
DirecTV is directing its football viewers to either sign up for a free seven-day trial at Fubo’s Pro or Elite with Sports Plus plans, or Sling TV’s Orange service from rival satellite TV operator Dish. The platforms include access to Disney networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Disney Channel, and Freeform, among others.
“As the leaves turn each fall, you can be sure of two things — football season will be in full swing, and Disney will do everything it can to keep you from watching your favorite team unless they offer it to you exclusively,” DirecTV wrote in a statement.
The El Segundo, Calif.-based company reiterated to its users that Disney is attempting to control access to the football landscape across pay-TV, a strategy it claims Disney employed against Charter’s Spectrum subscribers in 2023, Dish’s subs in 2022, and YouTube TV users in 2021.
“Unfortunately, Disney is back at it again, this time targeting [our] customers,” DirecTV wrote. “That’s why we’re giving you more ways to watch this weekend’s college football games, Monday Night Football and the U.S. Open. This is a small way to help you stay connected to your sports and entertainment while we work with Disney to reach a new agreement.”
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