DIRECTV and The Walt Disney Company Reach Agreement in Principle for Distribution of Disney’s Linear Networks and Direct-to-Consumer Services

All channels immediately restored for DIRECTV satellite, streaming and U-verse customers

The new, comprehensive agreement includes Disney's entire network and direct-to-consumer portfolio, genre-specific options, and ESPN's flagship direct-to-consumer offering when it launches in 2025.

BURBANK, CA and EL SEGUNDO, CA – DIRECTV and The Walt Disney Company today announced an agreement in principle that will provide greater choice, value and flexibility to their mutual customers. As a result, Disney's full linear network offering has been restored to DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM and U-verse customers while both parties work to finalize a new, multi-year agreement.

The agreed key points include:

• Continued delivery of Disney's entertainment, sports and news programming on market-based terms from its comprehensive linear portfolio, which includes the ABC owned television networks, the ESPN networks, the Disney branded channels, Freeform, the FX networks and the National Geographic channels.
• The ability to offer multiple genre-specific options – sports, entertainment, kids and family – including Disney’s linear networks as well as Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+.
• Disney's direct-to-consumer streaming services (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+) will be included in select DIRECTV packages as part of a wholesale agreement and will also be offered à la carte.
• The rights to distribute Disney's upcoming ESPN flagship service directly to consumers upon its launch at no additional cost to DIRECTV customers.

In a joint statement, the two companies said: “Through this unique collaboration, DIRECTV and Disney are giving their customers the ability to customize their video experience with more flexible options. DIRECTV and Disney have long connected consumers with the best entertainment, and this agreement reinforces that commitment by recognizing both the tremendous value of Disney content and the evolving preferences of DIRECTV customers. We want to thank all affected viewers for their patience and look forward to restoring Disney's entire network portfolio in time for college football and the Emmy Awards this weekend.”

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About DIRECTV

As a leader in sports and entertainment, DIRECTV has delivered industry-leading content, service and user satisfaction for nearly 30 years. DIRECTV is rethinking what's possible and is committed to aggregating, curating and delivering exceptional, innovative services to its customers. In 2023, DIRECTV enhanced the customer experience with the launch of Gemini, which integrates customers' content from their third-party platform subscriptions into a single, one-stop digital experience. With DIRECTV, the sports season never ends and customers are treated to broadcasts of several major sports, including NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and several national and international soccer leagues. DIRECTV offers customers the ability to watch sports, movies and TV shows on their home TVs or their favorite mobile devices via the DIRECTV app.

About The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media company comprising three core businesses: entertainment, sports and experiences. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenues of $88.9 billion in fiscal year 2023.

For further information please contact:

DIRECTV

Jon Greer

[email protected]

Thomas Tyrer

[email protected]

The Walt Disney Company

April Carretta

[email protected]

Bridget Osterhaus

[email protected]