Disney, DirecTV Reach Deal Ending Two-Week Blackout of ESPN, ABC; Agreement Encompasses New Streaming Options

variety.com:

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor After a bruising fight for both sides, Disney and DirecTV have called a truce: The companies announced a preliminary agreement on a new deal that will restore ESPN, ABC, FX, Disney Channel and other Disney networks to the DirecTV lineup after a nearly two-week blackout.

Under the new deal, announced Saturday, Sept. 14, DirecTV will continue carriage of Disney’s entertainment, sports and news channels including owned ABC TV stations, the ESPN networks, Disney-branded channels, Freeform, the FX networks and National Geographic channels.

The companies reached the deal just ahead of the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, set to air on ABC on Sunday, Sept. 15. DirecTV said Disney’s “full linear suite of networks” has been restored to satellite, DirecTV Stream and U-verse customers “while both parties work to finalize a new, multiyear contract.” The new agreement gives DirecTV the rights to offer multiple genre-specific options — sports, entertainment, and kids and family — inclusive of Disney’s linear networks along with Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+.

Disney’s Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ streaming services will be included in “select DirecTV packages” under a wholesale agreement, and also to be made available on an a la carte basis.