With Their Current Carriage Deal Expiring, a Showdown Between DIRECTV and Disney Could Loom

With the 5-year carriage deal that DIRECTV and Disney signed in 2019 set to come to an end this year, all eyes are on the media giants.

In an ever-changing media landscape, carriage deals between cable providers and content companies have become increasingly contentious. Last year, Disney and Spectrum got into a standoff over access to Disney’s streaming services and the rigidity of the company’s channel packages.

Photo: Media Play News

Now, the DIRECTV negotiations loom.

What DIRECTV Would Want From Disney

According to a new report from John Ourand of Puck News, DIRECTV will seek a similar deal to what Spectrum got earlier this year. That would likely include subscriptions to Disney+ and ESPN+.

Just last week, DIRECTV announced a list of requirements it would want in any future TV carriage deals. These included flexible packages, lower-priced alternatives, and the ability to offer an aggregated experience.

Photo: DIRECTV

Previously, Disney has been adamant that the service provides pay-for packages that include most, if not all, of Disney’s owned networks. To get popular stations like ESPN, the companies must pay for less popular channels such as Freeform.

Photo: ESPN

While Disney and Spectrum were able to come to a compromise on the issue, it remains to be seen if Disney will change its overall policy.

A Stand-Off Could Loom

For now, a potential carriage dispute between DIRECTV and Disney remains theoretical. However, it is something worth keeping an eye on.

Photo: Disney

Before coming to a new agreement, Spectrum blacked out all Disney-owned channels for months. Hopefully, DIRECTV customers do not have to go through a similar experience for the two sides to strike a deal.

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