DirecTV Customers Likely to Miss NFL’s Opening ‘Monday Night Football’ Game on ESPN #

Millions of DirecTV customers are expected to be unable to watch the NFL’s opening ‘Monday Night Football’ game on ESPN due to an ongoing carriage dispute between DirecTV and Disney.

The dispute, which began on September 1, has resulted in Disney’s TV networks going dark for DirecTV customers. This blackout affects pay-TV channels like ESPN and FX, as well as the ABC broadcast network in certain markets.

As of Monday evening, a deal between the two companies seems unlikely to be reached in time for the game. However, negotiations are still ongoing, and the situation could change rapidly.

The conflict centers around fees and bundling practices. DirecTV is pushing for the ability to create genre-specific bundles, such as kids, entertainment, and news packages. Disney opposes this approach.

The dispute has already impacted DirecTV customers’ ability to watch the U.S. Open and the first full weekend of the college football season.

Live sports continue to attract large audiences and command high media rights fees, contributing to the high costs of carrying sports networks like ESPN. This comes at a time when the pay-TV industry is facing significant customer losses to streaming services.

DirecTV has taken several actions in response to the dispute:

Alerting customers to alternative ways to watch ESPN
Offering a $30 credit to affected customers
Filing a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, alleging that Disney failed to negotiate in good faith

Both companies have made public statements defending their positions and criticizing the other’s approach to negotiations.

The NFL, particularly ‘Monday Night Football,’ has often been a catalyst for resolving carriage disputes in the past. However, as of now, it appears that DirecTV customers may miss out on the opening game between the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers.

This dispute highlights the ongoing challenges in the pay-TV industry as it grapples with changing consumer preferences, the rise of streaming services, and the high costs associated with sports programming.