After an extended period of DirecTV customers being unable to watch any Disney-owned channels, including the full collection of ESPN channels, an agreement between the network and provider has finally been struck.
On Saturday, ESPN released a press release confirming that its channels, along with all other Disney channels, would be returning to DirecTV customers as the sides finalized a deal.
Just as football season was beginning, many fans were unable to watch college football and NFL games through DirecTV due to the dispute. However, headed into Week 3 of college football season and Week 2 of the NFL season, that’s come to an end.
With the news of the dispute ending, The Sporting News has you covered on when ESPN channels will be back on DirecTV, how to watch them and the details of the new contract.
MORE: College football picks and predictions for Week 3
When will DirecTV get ESPN back?
Per the ESPN press release, DirecTV immediately restored all Disney channels, including ESPN, when the agreement was announced on Saturday morning.
That means college football fans with DirecTV are able to watch ESPN’s coverage of Saturday’s action as games kick off around 12 p.m. ET. On “College GameDay,” Pat McAfee confirmed the deal and welcomed DirecTV customers back to the program.
.@PatMcAfeeShow and our @CollegeGameDay crew confirm this morning’s great news that @DIRECTV and the @WaltDisneyCo have reached an agreement.
All Disney networks are restored in time for today’s college football games and Sunday’s #EmmyAwards: https://t.co/L2VsMYJ1jF pic.twitter.com/fk6ZUnGA4r
— bill hofheimer (@bhofheimer_espn) September 14, 2024
ESPN is broadcasting multiple early-slate college football games on Saturday. Memphis vs. Florida State is on ESPN, No. 16 LSU vs. South Carolina is on ABC and No. 13 Oklahoma State vs. Tulsa is on ESPN2.
The deal also came well in time for the provider’s customers to watch the “Monday Night Football” broadcast between the Falcons and Eagles on Monday night.
What channel is ESPN on DirecTV?
Per DirecTV’s website, sports fans can watch ESPN on Channel 206.
ESPN2 can be found on Channel 209, while ESPNEWS is on Channel 207 and ESPNU is on Channel 208.
DirecTV and ESPN contract
The agreement between DirecTV and Disney, which is currently only agreed to in principle, is a “first-of-its-kind” collaboration, the ESPN press release said.
While the two sides will finalize the details of a multi-year contract soon, the deal will include: Restored carriage of Disney’s channels, including ESPN and ABC among others, “the opportunity to offer multiple genre-specific options” to customers, and Disney’s streaming services (Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+) to be included in select packages for DirecTV customers.
While the details of the deal are likely still being ironed out, DirecTV customers got a sigh of relief on Saturday with the news that they can once again watch ESPN and other Disney-owned channels.
