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U.S. Open Reacts to ‘Disappointing’ Disney Dispute with DirecTV that Cut Broadcast Access for Millions of Viewers
Sep
Approximately 11 million DirecTV subscribers were unable to watch tennis’ biggest event, the U.S. Open, live on the air.
The U.S. Open faced a significant setback over the weekend as millions of viewers were left in the dark due to an ongoing contract dispute between Disney and DirecTV. The dispute, which led to Disney’s ESPN and ABC programming being pulled from DirecTV’s service, affected approximately 11 million subscribers, preventing them from watching live coverage of the U.S. Open and other major sporting events.
The issue came to a head on Sunday night, with coverage of the U.S. Open tennis tournament and the kickoff of college football being interrupted. The University of Southern California Trojans vs. Louisiana State University Tigers game was among the events blacked out for many DirecTV customers.
The U.S. Open released an official statement expressing disappointment over the situation: “It’s disappointing that fans and viewers around the country will not have the opportunity to watch the greatest athletes in our sport take part in the 2024 US Open due to an unresolved negotiation between DirecTV and Disney, resulting in the loss of access to ESPN. We are hopeful that this dispute can be resolved as quickly as possible.”
Disney and DirecTV Respond
The core of the dispute revolves around financial terms, with Disney asserting that the deal proposed by DirecTV does not adequately reflect the value of its content. In a joint statement from Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro, they emphasized their commitment to providing top-tier content: “We invest significantly to deliver the No. 1 brands in entertainment, news, and sports because that’s what our viewers expect and deserve. We urge DirecTV to do what’s in the best interest of their customers and finalize a deal that would immediately restore our programming.”
In response, DirecTV’s Chief Content Officer, Rob Thun, criticized Disney’s approach, stating, “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.”
Thun further argued that Disney’s shift toward its Disney+ platform has led to higher costs for consumers, making them pay for the same content on multiple platforms.
Consumer Impact and Ongoing Negotiations
The fallout from the dispute has left many sports fans frustrated, particularly as the U.S. Open reaches its critical stages. DirecTV has pointed to its internal numbers to support its stance, noting that less than 40 percent of its customers watch Disney sports content for at least three hours on average per month.
As negotiations continue, Disney has emphasized its efforts to offer “flexible options” and maintain industry-standard rates. The entertainment giant highlighted its role as an industry leader in adapting to changing consumer preferences and distribution models.
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to representatives from Disney, ABC, ESPN, and DirecTV for further information. As the dispute drags on, the hope remains that a resolution will be reached soon to restore access to critical sports coverage for millions of viewers.
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