Two-day blackout on pay-TV operator affected ESPN, ABC-owned stations, Disney Channel, FX and more

Disney‘s 20 cable and broadcast TV networks were restored Sunday night to the lineups of Dish Network‘s services following a nearly 48-hour blackout, after the parties reached a “handshake agreement” on a new distribution deal.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution said the tentative pact covering Dish TV and Sling TV “properly reflects fair market value” for the programming suite, which includes ESPN, Disney Channel, FX, Freeform and ABC owned-and-operated stations.

According to Dish, Disney had asked for a $1 billion increase in fees as part of renewing the deal, which had expired Sept. 30. Dish also claimed that Disney was demanding that ESPN and ESPN2 be included in Dish TV packages that currently exclude sports channels, and to require ABC local channels to be carried for all subscribers in eight markets.

Related Stories

A hand holding up a controller into the air VIP+

Why the Video Game Industry Can’t Shake Its Struggles

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 01: Christopher Ciccone poses for a portrait while promoting his new book "Life With My Sister Madonna" on August 1, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Christopher Ciccone, Artist and Brother of Madonna, Dies at 63

“We have reached a handshake agreement with Dish/Sling TV, which properly reflects fair market value and terms for the Walt Disney Co.’s unparalleled content,” Disney said in a statement. “As a result, we are pleased to restore our portfolio of networks on a temporary basis while both parties work to finalize a new deal.”

Popular on Variety

Dish wrote in a tweet just after midnight ET, “We are pleased to announce that all your Disney and ESPN channels have been restored. Thank you for your patience and support.”

Dish is the fourth biggest pay-TV operator in the U.S., after Comcast, Charter and DirecTV. Dish had about 10 million total subscribers as of the end of June 2022, comprising 7.79 million satellite TV subscribers and 2.20 million Sling TV subscribers.

The list of Disney-owned networks affected by the blackout were: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, ESPN Deportes, Disney Channel, Disney Jr., Disney XD, Freeform, FX, FXX, FXM, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Mundo, ACC Network, SEC Network, Longhorn Network and Baby TV. In addition, the eight ABC-owned local stations that are now back on Dish and Sling TV are Chicago (WLS), Fresno, Calif. (KFSN), Houston (KTRK), Los Angeles (KABC), New York (WABC), Philadelphia (WPVI), Raleigh, N.C. (WTVD) and San Francisco (KGO).

Read More About:

Jump to Comments

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXN%2Bjq2taKaVrMBwsMispZ6xXZrAsbqMmpmcZaKawLW70Z6bZpyZqLVuv8uipaBlpKt6cn6SbmpyaWFmfXA%3D