Sports fans were left frustrated Sunday night as Disney channels, including ESPN and ABC, went dark on DirecTV due to a carriage dispute between the two companies. The blackout occurred during the U.S. Open tennis tournament and the first full weekend of college football, leaving viewers without access to key sports events.
The disruption began at 7:20 p.m. ET, just before a highly anticipated U.S. Open match between Frances Tiafoe and Alexei Popyrin. The blackout also affected the LSU vs. USC college football game, which started 10 minutes later.
The U.S. Tennis Association expressed disappointment, hoping for a quick resolution to the dispute that has left many fans without access to major sports events. ABC-owned stations in major cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago were also affected.
DirecTV, which serves 11.3 million subscribers, accused Disney of prioritizing profits and anti-competitive practices, while Disney emphasized the importance of reaching a fair agreement that values its content. As networks and distributors continue to clash over content distribution, the blackout highlights growing tensions in the pay TV industry.
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