In a deal that might have cost DirecTV many customers, the cable provider removed all the Disney channels from its service. The two sides tried to reach a deal, but when it fell through, DirecTV removed the channels. This caused many football fans to react negatively since it happened before the first Monday Night Football game. It also caused General Hospital to leave the provider.
Luckily, ABC is back on DirecTV. Here is what you need to know.
Why Was General Hospital Not On DirecTV?
DirecTV blacked out all of Disney’s television channels when the two sides failed to reach a new agreement. The two sides tried to work out an agreement before Monday Night Football this last week but never reached a deal to bring the channels back.
DirecTV, which had 11 million subscribers by the end of 2023, lost ESPN, ABC, the Disney Channel, FX, and other Disney-owned networks. This came after the five-year deal between Disney and DirecTV expired on September 1. DirecTV filed a complaint with the FCC, claiming Disney negotiated in bad faith.
“Millions of Americans have already missed early college football games, may well miss the first Monday Night Football game,” DirecTV said in the complaint (via USA Today).
Disney said DirecTV needed to stop “creating diversions and instead prioritize their customers by finalizing a deal.” This last week, fans lost Monday Night Football and General Hospital. However, DirecTV ensured subscribers could still watch the Presidential Debate because it would also be on C-SPAN.
The biggest point of contention is that Disney wanted DirecTV to carry a “Fat Bundle” with “less desirable Disney programming” so Disney could offer cheaper “skinnier” bundles to customers. A judge blocked the new joint venture, “Venu,” saying it would cost consumers more.
When Will General Hospital Be Back On DirecTV?
The good news is that DirecTV and Disney reached a new deal, and General Hospital will be back on the cable service soon. “We’d like to thank all affected viewers for their patience and are pleased to restore Disney’s entire portfolio of networks in time for college football and the Emmy Awards this weekend,” the companies said in a joint statement (via CNN).
According to both companies, the new deal offers customers new options, including the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ streaming services. DirectTV will also be able to offer the upcoming ESPN standalone service at no extra cost to customers.
General Hospital will be back on Monday for daytime soap opera fans.
Are you disappointed that General Hospital and other ABC shows were removed from DirecTV? Are you still using these basic cable services, or have you switched to streaming? Let us know your thoughts in the comment below.
