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UPDATE: It appears that Disney/DirecTV customers will still not have access to the presidential debate tonight, as the satellite TV company claims that the Mouse will not agree to its request to allow Disney-owned channels for the week. According to a DirecTV statement provided to Inside the Magic:
On Tuesday, Disney requested a unique exception to return ABC-only for tonight because it’s hosting the 2024 Presidential Debate, an event widely available across other major broadcast stations and news networks. Unfortunately, returning only Disney’s ABC stations from the entire portfolio of channels for a limited 3-hour window will cause customer confusion among those who would briefly see the debate only to lose the channel again shortly after.
DIRECTV agreed to return ABC in time for tonight’s Presidential Debate if Disney is also willing to return all its channels across platforms through the end of Monday Night Football at 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 17. Returning the Disney-owned channels for the next week while we work to reach a new agreement would benefit customers who would regain access to ABC for the debate and the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 16 as well as their favorite college and professional football games on ABC and ESPN, ACC or SEC networks.
DIRECTV will continue to help customers find alternative ways to watch Disney channels and will provide a $30 bill credit to relieve some of the temporary inconvenience.
DIRECTV’s offer to Disney to return all Disney channels, including impacted ABC stations, ahead of tonight’s Presidential Debate through Monday, Sept. 16 remains on the table.
Credit: DirecTV
At the eleventh hour, Disney has caved and will allow DirecTV customers to watch tonight’s presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
Credit: Inside the Magic
For over a week, The Walt Disney Company and DirecTV, one of the country’s largest pay-TV providers, have been at loggerheads over the carriage deal that allows the latter to carry channels like ESPN, FX, the Disney Channel, and, very importantly right this exact second, ABC News. The latest deal between the two huge companies expired on September 1, leading to Disney-owned channels being abruptly yanked from the TVs of over 11 million paying customers, who understandably are very upset.
Related: Mickey Mouse, Football, and Bad Faith: DirecTV Officially Brings Government Action Against Disney
While much of the anger about the situation has been over the lack of ESPN at the beginning of NFL Season and Monday Night Football, it also emerged that the subscribers who lost Disney channels would not have direct access to watch the presidential debate between the former President and current Vice President, which will air tonight at 9:00 p.m. EDT. World News Tonight anchor and managing editor David Muir and ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis have been announced as moderators.
Credit: Inside the Magic
Inside the Magic recently published a guide to watching the Kamala Harris/Donald Trump debate on non-Disney channels, but it seems that the Mouse has decided to throw angry subscribers/participants in American democracy a bone and will lift the blackout for a short period of time tonight (per Deadline).
A Disney spokesperson said, via a statement, “As we announced in May, the ABC News presidential debate will be widely available across broadcast, cable, and streaming. Although we have yet to reach an agreement, we are providing a three-hour feed of ABC News coverage to all impacted DirecTV customers at no cost because we want all Americans to be able to view tonight’s debate at this important moment in our history.”
Credit: Inside the Magic
Related: UPDATE: DirecTV Will Pay for Missing Disney and ESPN Channels, Sign up Before Tomorrow
Although there are no more details available, presumably, DirecTV customers will be able to simply turn on their televisions and switch to their normal ABC channel in order to see Kamala Harris and Donald Trump face off. As one might expect, Disney also threw in a few more jabs at its sparring partner, continuing, “We remain at the table negotiating with DirecTV and the restoration of our programming to their subscribers is completely within their control.”
Both companies are currently blaming each other for the situation, and there seems to be no sign of a more permanent solution to the blackout. But, at least for a three-hour window tonight, the two can make nice.
Disney Dining will update this breaking story as events merit.
