DirecTV subscribers in the Sacramento region and other places around the country may be facing some frustrating blackouts just as major sporting events and political showdowns are about to hit the airwaves. With Disney and DirecTV locked in a contract dispute, millions of viewers are set to lose access to key channels such as ABC, ESPN, the Disney Channel, FX, and National Geographic. This blackout includes popular programming like the 49ers’ season opener on “Monday Night Football,” college football, and even the highly anticipated presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
The crux of the issue lies in a failed negotiation between Disney and DirecTV after their previous carriage agreement expired on September 1. Without a deal in place, Disney’s suite of channels was pulled from DirecTV’s lineup, leaving around 11 million subscribers in the dark. This blackout has disrupted access to marquee events, including recent college football games and ESPN’s coverage of the U.S. Open tennis tournament.
Sacramento-area viewers, however, might catch a break. Local ABC affiliate KXTV, or ABC10, will still broadcast Monday’s 49ers game.
However, the contract issues (as of the writing of this post) could also affect millions to be able to watch Tuesday’s debate despite the larger blackout. An agreement between DirecTV and Tegna, the station’s owner, keeps ABC10 available for satellite users. Unfortunately, this doesn’t extend to DirecTV Stream, the company’s internet TV service, where ABC10 has been blacked out since Sunday.
For DirecTV satellite users outside of Sacramento, especially in areas where Disney owns the local ABC station—such as San Francisco, New York, and Fresno—the situation is more dire. Fans in these regions won’t be able to tune into the game or the debate unless an agreement is reached.
This standoff mirrors a similar dispute last year when DirecTV clashed with Nexstar, resulting in a month-long blackout of Channel 40 in Sacramento during the 49ers’ season opener. Likewise, a year ago, Disney and Spectrum faced off, leaving customers without Disney’s channels for nearly two weeks before a last-minute deal restored service in time for the first “Monday Night Football” game.
DirecTV has not held back in its criticism of Disney during this standoff. In a statement, the company accused Disney of pushing an “anti-consumer approach,” alleging that Disney demands payment for channels that viewers don’t watch and insists on charging for access to Disney-owned streaming services that customers may not even want.
Disney, in turn, fired back, arguing that DirecTV has been misrepresenting the facts. The media giant stressed its desire to reach a “fair and flexible” agreement that acknowledges the high costs involved in creating premium content while still addressing the needs of DirecTV’s customers. Despite this public war of words, the two companies have yet to find common ground, leaving the timing of a resolution unclear.
Meanwhile, those eager to watch the 49ers’ opener, the upcoming presidential debate, or any other key programming are going to have to turn to alternatives if they are available to them.
