DirecTV Files FCC Complaint Against Disney Amid Ongoing Carriage Dispute
- Category: News
[Source – dapsmagic.com]
As the standoff between DirecTV and Disney extends into its second week, tensions have escalated. On Saturday night, DirecTV filed a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), accusing Disney of negotiating in bad faith.
The dispute began when Disney channels, including ESPN and ABC-owned stations in nine markets, went dark on DirecTV starting September 1. As a result, DirecTV subscribers have been unable to watch significant programming such as college football games and the concluding matches of the US Open tennis tournament, including both the women’s and men’s finals.
DirecTV, the third-largest pay TV provider in the United States with approximately 11.3 million subscribers, claims that Disney is in violation of the FCC’s good faith negotiation requirements. The complaint outlines Disney’s demands, which include waiving any legal claims related to potential anticompetitive actions, such as restrictive packaging and minimum penetration requirements.
DirecTV files FCC complaint against Disney: The blackout has significant implications for DirecTV’s subscribers. In addition to ESPN and ABC networks, Disney-branded channels such as Freeform, FX, and National Geographic are also unavailable. Notably, ABC is scheduled to broadcast the much-anticipated “Monday Night Football” opener featuring the New York Jets versus the San Francisco 49ers. Additionally, ABC will host a presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on Tuesday in Philadelphia.
The affected ABC-owned stations include those in major markets such as Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Fresno, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, and Raleigh, North Carolina.
DirecTV’s complaint accuses Disney of making anticompetitive demands and pushing for a ‘clean slate’ provision along with a covenant not to sue. These conditions, according to DirecTV, are intended to prevent any legal challenges related to Disney’s anticompetitive demands, including the possibility of filing good-faith complaints with the FCC. DirecTV asserts that such demands are contrary to the FCC’s guidelines on negotiation.
DirecTV CEO Ray Carpenter emphasized during a conference call with analysts that the company is unwilling to agree to a new carriage deal with Disney without substantial changes to the bundling structure. Carpenter stated that DirecTV is focused on long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes to ensure the sustainability of its video services.
In response, Disney maintains that the mutual release of claims is a standard procedure following the conclusion of licensing agreements. A Disney spokesperson reiterated that the company is committed to restoring access to its content and urged DirecTV to prioritize reaching an agreement. The spokesperson highlighted the importance of finalizing a deal to allow subscribers to enjoy upcoming programming, including the return of Monday Night Football.
This situation mirrors a similar dispute between Disney and Charter Spectrum last year, which also resulted in a nearly 12-day blackout before an agreement was reached just in time for the first NFL Monday night game of the season.
DirecTV files FCC complaint against Disney. As the negotiations continue, both sides remain at an impasse, with DirecTV’s complaint adding a new layer of complexity to the ongoing dispute.
