Why DirecTV customers may need workaround to watch Trump-Harris debate – Washington Examiner
DirecTV customers are facing a blackout of Disney-owned networks, including ABC and ESPN, as the two companies negotiate a new carriage deal. This situation raises concerns for viewers who wish to watch the upcoming presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, which is set to be hosted by ABC News. As of now, DirecTV subscribers are unable to access any Disney-owned channels, a disruption that coincides with major sporting events like college football and the NFL’s Monday Night Football.
The disagreement has led to finger-pointing between the two companies. DirecTV accuses Disney of making unreasonable demands and not taking responsibility, while Disney claims that DirecTV is misrepresenting the situation and insists that their focus is on reaching a fair agreement that acknowledges the value of their content.
While the future of the negotiations remains uncertain, both parties are advocating for a resolution that prioritizes consumer interests. In the meantime, viewers may need to seek alternative options to watch the debate and sports events affected by this blackout.
Why DirecTV customers may need workaround to watch Trump-Harris debate
DirecTV customers are currently unable to access Disney-owned networks as the two companies attempt to negotiate a new carriage deal, which could affect their ability to view next week’s presidential debate.
The highly-anticipated debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will be hosted by ABC News, a division of the Walt Disney Company, and aired on ABC. As of Sunday, DirecTV customers cannot access Disney-owned ABC stations, ESPN networks, Disney Channel, FX, Freeform, and other channels owned by the House of Mouse after the company pulled the networks.
While Disney and DirecTV could work out a deal to restore access to the channels, the two sides do not appear closer to a deal. The networks’ blackout comes ahead of a weekend of college football and the U.S. Open on ABC and ESPN, along with the season opener for the NFL’s Monday Night Football also on those networks.
DirecTV and Disney have pointed fingers at each other over the blackout. The cable and satellite company claimed Disney was forcing them to pay for services their customers may not want and sought to waive legal claims over Disney’s anti-competitive behavior.
“The Walt Disney Co. is once again refusing any accountability to consumers, distribution partners, and now the American judicial system,” said Rob Thun, DirecTV chief content officer, in a statement Sunday. “Disney is in the business of creating alternate realities, but this is the real world where we believe you earn your way and must answer for your own actions.”
“They want to continue to chase maximum profits and dominant control at the expense of consumers — making it harder for them to select the shows and sports they want at a reasonable price,” he added.
Disney has insisted that the dispute is over carriage rates and argued DirecTV misrepresented the facts.
“DirecTV continues to misrepresent the facts around our ongoing negotiations. Our priority is to reach a marketplace deal that serves the needs of DirecTV and their customers while also recognizing the value of our top-quality content and the significant investment required to create and acquire it,” Disney Entertainment co-chairmen Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro, said in a joint statement Wednesday.
“We believe there is a path to a fair and flexible agreement that strikes this critical balance and works for all sides, especially the consumer,” the statement continued.
Unlike with exclusive sports broadcasts, the Tuesday debate can be accessed through multiple junctures even if Disney-owned ABC networks are still blocked for DirecTV customers.
The easiest option for DirecTV customers to watch the debate will be to watch a simulcast on a different network. ABC is hosting the debate, but various other networks have announced simulcasts of the showdown between Harris and Trump. NBC, Fox, CBS, and PBS have announced simulcasts over the air, while cable networks, including C-SPAN, CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, and NewsNation, will also air the debate live.
If DirecTV customers insist on watching ABC News’s debate coverage, the network has said it will simulcast it on ABC News Live, Disney+, and Hulu. ABC is also available via antenna over the air without cable or satellite.
The debate between Harris and Trump will be held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday at 9 p.m. EDT. It will follow similar rules to the CNN debate between President Joe Biden and Trump in June.
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