As the NFL season kicks off on Thursday, another battle is affecting 11 million viewers unable to access certain sports and shows.

DirecTV and Disney are in talks to establish a new agreement that will enable DirecTV’s satellite and streaming services, along with AT&T’s U-Verse TV, to air ESPN, Disney Channel, FX, and other Disney-owned networks.

All Disney channels went offline on Sunday, September 1, when DirecTV’s five-year contract expired. Currently, DirecTV subscribers cannot access these channels, alongside ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU, ESPN News, ACC Network, SEC Network, Disney Junior, and National Geographic.

Additionally, eight ABC stations owned by Disney are also unavailable, covering major cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.

Negotiations are still underway, but if an agreement isn’t reached soon, sports enthusiasts may miss out on several upcoming events.

The concluding rounds of the U.S. Open tennis competition start Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, featuring the women’s semifinals. The men’s semifinals are set for Friday at 7 p.m. ET, with the women’s final on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET and the men’s final on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on ABC.

What NFL and college football games are set to air on ESPN?

Here are the college football games scheduled on ESPN and Disney-owned channels on Saturday, September 7 (all times Eastern):

• Noon: Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State (ABC and ESPN+), Kansas State vs. Tulane (ESPN), Georgia Tech vs. Syracuse (ACC Network), Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati (ESPN2), Troy vs. Memphis (ESPNU).
• 12:45 p.m.: McNeese vs. Texas A&M (SEC Network)
• 3:30 p.m.: California vs. Auburn (ESPN2)
• 3:30 p.m.: South Carolina vs. Kentucky (ABC and ESPN+)
• 4 p.m.: University of Texas-San Antonio vs. Texas State (ESPNU)
• 4:15 p.m.: Middle Tennessee vs. Mississippi (SEC Network)
• 7 p.m.: South Florida vs. Alabama (ESPN)
• 7 p.m.: Virginia vs. Wake Forest (ESPN2)
• 7:30 p.m.: Tennessee vs. NC State (ABC and ESPN+) and Houston vs. Oklahoma (SEC Network)
• 8 p.m.: Appalachian State vs. Clemson (ACC Network)
• 10:15 p.m.: Liberty vs. New Mexico State (ESPN2)
• 10:30 p.m.: Mississippi State vs. Arizona State (ESPN)

NFL: Upcoming games on Disney-owned networks include:

• Monday, September 9: New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers at 8:20 p.m. on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+; the ManningCast featuring Peyton and Eli Manning will air on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
• Monday, September 16: Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles (ESPN); ManningCast on ESPN2. (Note: This game is not scheduled for ESPN+).

DirecTV-Disney blackout: How can viewers access ESPN and other sports channels?

If you wish to catch the upcoming college football and NFL games on ESPN and its affiliated channels, here are some alternatives:

• ESPN+: A standalone subscription to this streaming service is available for $10.99 a month. Alternatively, you can opt for a Disney bundle that includes Disney+ and Hulu, starting at $14.99 monthly.
• Fubo: This streaming platform includes ESPN and local channels like ABC where accessible, offering a seven-day free trial. After the trial, it costs $49.99 for the first month and then $79.99 monthly. The basic Pro plan features at least 185 live channels including ESPN2, ACC Network, and more. The Elite with Sports Plus package is available for $69.99 for the first month and $99.99 after that, including ESPNU, ESPNews, SEC Network, and NFL RedZone.
• Hulu + Live TV: This Disney-owned service provides a three-day free trial, then starts at $76.99 monthly for over 95 channels including ESPN and others. The plan also offers Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads), along with access to Hulu’s extensive library of original programming, including hits like “Only Murders in the Building.”
  • Sling TV: Sling Orange does not offer a free trial and is available for $15 during the first month, with a subsequent fee of $40 monthly. It includes 35 channels such as ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Disney Channel, and Freeform. Sports enthusiasts may consider adding Sling Blue and the Sports Extra package, which costs $45 for the first month and $70 thereafter, providing up to 74 channels, notably the ACC Network, ESPNU, ESPNews, SEC Network, NFL RedZone, as well as local Fox and NBC networks (if accessible).
  • YouTube TV: YouTube TV currently has a promotional offer of “Try 3 weeks free.” Following that, the YouTube TV Base Plan is priced at $64.99 per month for the first four months, rising to $72.99 starting the fifth month. This service offers over 100 channels, including those affected by the blackout like ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, Disney Channel, Disney Jr., Disney XC, FX, FXM, FXX, Freeform, ACC Network, SEC Network, National Geographic, and National Geographic Wild, along with local ABC channels blacked out in nine cities.
  • Opt for a digital antenna: Subscribing to ESPN+ or the Disney bundle is not a complete solution, as the app does not provide coverage for every event on ESPN’s network. Ross Benes, a senior TV and streaming analyst at eMarketer, informed YSL News that utilizing a digital antenna allows you to access ABC and other significant networks for free on your digital TV. However, he emphasized that “you must purchase the antenna, mount it near a window or outside, aim it towards the station, ensure you’re within the signal range, and avoid any obstructions to the transmission.”

   

  Your simplest – albeit pricier – option might be to sign up for a live streaming TV service like Fubo or YouTube TV. He added, “However, be vigilant, as digital cable can also face carriage disputes.” Digital cable can easily be canceled after a sports season concludes or if channels are dropped.

   

  What’s the status of the DirecTV-Disney dispute?

  There’s no clear resolution in sight. Both parties informed YSL News that discussions are ongoing. Nonetheless, the public contention suggests the impasse may persist.

   

  Ray Carpenter, DirecTV’s Chief Financial Officer, mentioned during a conference call that DirecTV requested Disney allow viewers to watch the USC-LSU football game on Sunday night but was met with a “hostile stance against our customers,” leading to the blackout.

  Disney and ESPN officials claimed that DirecTV “continues to misrepresent the situation surrounding our negotiations,” including a statement indicating that DirecTV would need to waive any future legal claims against Disney to finalize an agreement.

   

  Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.