On Saturday, DirecTV and Walt Disney (DIS.N) said that they had struck a preliminary agreement, which would allow the satellite TV provider to resume offering college football and other programs to its more than 11 million users.
The firms released a statement together saying that the agreement gives satellite TV customers more options and freedom. On September 1, DirecTV subscribers were unable to watch ABC, ESPN, and other Disney-owned networks since negotiations for a renewal had come to a standstill.
Several genre-specific content packages, such as those centered on sports, entertainment, children’s programming, and family entertainment, will be available on DirecTV. In order to better cater to customer preferences in the age of streaming TV, the satellite TV operator tried to alter its lineup.
The Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ streaming services will also be part of some DirecTV bundles. When its main ESPN network appears on streaming, the satellite TV provider also has the rights to distribute that version of the network.
The new pact gave the entertainment behemoth better financial conditions, according to two people with knowledge of the negotiations.
“DirecTV and Disney have a long-standing history of connecting consumers to the best entertainment, and this agreement furthers that commitment by recognizing both the tremendous value of Disney’s content and the evolving preferences of DIRECTV’s customers,” the two companies stated in a statement.
Due of the conflict, DirecTV customers were unable to see highly sought-after content, including as college football games on ESPN and the U.S. Open tennis event. Additionally, Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump’s U.S. presidential debate, which was presented by ABC News, was not available to DirecTV customers.
In statements made on Thursday at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference in San Francisco, Vince Torres, the chief marketing officer of DirecTV, said that the content embargo was costing the satellite TV provider users money.
