DirecTV, Disney Network dispute settlement, restore service after signing new long-term deal

Another long network dispute has ended with Disney and DirecTV reaching an agreement.

The new long-term agreement settles a dispute that left more than 11 million DirecTV customers without access to Disney networks for 13 days. Service was restored Saturday before the start of the first college football game.

A Disney release sent Saturday morning outlined some of the terms of the deal, including the return of Disney-owned channels such as ABC, ESPN, Disney, Freeform, FX and more.

Additionally, DirecTV will offer several specific “skinny” bundles associated with Disney networks, such as a sports bundle, an entertainment bundle, a kids and family bundle, and Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ bundles. The ability to create these small, genre-specific bundles was a sticking point that led to the blackout, per CNBC.

The blackout began on September 1, with Disney Networks going dark on DirecTV's service as contract negotiations soured. The blackout left DirecTV subscribers unable to watch several major events to start the season, including the US Open, the first two weeks of college football and the first kickoff of the NFL's Monday Night Football.

Initially, the two organizations failed to agree on contract terms but managed to settle things in time for a busy sports weekend Saturday. Disney-affiliated networks (including ABC, ESPN and ESPN+) will air more than 30 college football games on Saturday; Monday Night Football features the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles.

Disney had a similar dispute with Charter Spectrum last September, leaving customers (and tennis players) unable to watch events like the US Open, but resolved the issue 12 days later.