(NEXSTAR) — More than 11 million DirecTV subscribers suddenly lost access to Disney Entertainment channels over the weekend, disrupting their viewing of major sporting events on ESPN like college football and the U.S. Open tennis tournament.
The major carrier and the entertainment company are in a dispute over a new carriage agreement. After failing to reach an agreement, Disney channels went dark on DirecTV on Sunday night. One of those channels, ESPN, was carrying the fourth round of the U.S. Open when it happened.
Other impacted channels include Freeform, FX and National Geographic.
It’s unclear when the dispute between DirecTV and Disney will be resolved, but in the meantime, the former is offering customers $20 in bill credits. You’ll have to do a little work to get it, though.
If you have DirecTV, DirecTV Stream or U-Verse services, you will need to apply for the bill credit online. First, you will be asked to enter the service you use as well as your zip code. Then, under the “explore bill credits” section, you must select how you receive your service.
You need to enter the email address connected to your account if you use a satellite to get DirecTV or log in if you access the provider online.
DirecTV warns online that your account must remain active until the credit has been applied. It won’t be applied immediately to your account. Instead, DirecTV notes it will be applied in up to two bill cycles. You can visit DirecTV’s website for more details.
When will the dispute end?
It’s not yet clear when the two sides will reach an agreement.
DirecTV said Disney offered an extension to keep the channels on the air in exchange for DirecTV waiving all future legal claims that its behavior is anti-competitive.
“The Walt Disney Co. is once again refusing any accountability to consumers, distribution partners, and now the American judicial system,” said Rob Thun, DirecTV’s chief content officer, in a statement. “Disney is in the business of creating alternate realities, but this is the real world where we believe you earn your way and must answer for your own actions. They want to continue to chase maximum profits and dominant control at the expense of consumers — making it harder for them to select the shows and sports they want at a reasonable price.”
Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, co-chairmen of Disney Entertainment, and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro issued a joint statement urging DirecTV to finalize a deal.
The statement added that “while we’re open to offering DirecTV flexibility and terms which we’ve extended to other distributors, we will not enter into an agreement that undervalues our portfolio of television channels and programs. We invest significantly to deliver the No. 1 brands in entertainment, news and sports because that’s what our viewers expect and deserve.”
Last year, Disney and Spectrum were involved in a nearly 12-day impasse before reaching an agreement hours before the first Monday night NFL game of the season.
DirecTV has told customers that because Disney-owned channels ESPN and ABC only air one NFL game per week, “chances are your favorite team won’t play Monday night until later in the season after we’ve had plenty of time to come to a new agreement.”
The first Monday night game, a matchup between the New York Jets and the San Francisco 49ers, is scheduled for Sept. 9.
College football fans may be even more impacted. DirecTV notes ACC and SEC teams “play most games on Disney-owned channels,” and it encourages customers to check team schedules to determine where their games will be aired.
The carrier also says it is “pursuing every avenue to get your programming back” before ABC’s prime-time series return in mid-September.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
