ESPN’s broadcast of the US Open was abruptly cut short for DirecTV users on Sunday due to a blackout issued by Disney on all its networks following the expiration of a 2019 licensing deal. DirecTV and Disney are at odds over who is to blame for the interruption, with DirecTV’s chief content officer criticizing Disney for prioritizing profits over consumer choice and accusing them of anti-competitive behavior. DirecTV also raised concerns about Disney’s programming choices and the move to prioritize streaming services over traditional broadcasting. On the other hand, Disney asserted that DirecTV chose to deny their subscribers access to content and emphasized the value of their television channels and programs. This disagreement mirrors a similar situation from the previous year when Disney pulled its networks from Spectrum until a new deal was reached. DirecTV called out Disney’s actions as being anti-consumer and urged for a resolution to restore programming for customers.
