I have Direct Stream, which is comparable in price to YouTube and is also wireless. I don't want to change because my internet is with ATT, and I like my Fiber speeds and prices. I currently do NOT have ABC, ESPN(s), Disney, etc…. Contrary to comment above, losing ABC is not limited to just larger markets!
I’ll find a way to watch Saturday’s game. Disney did the same thing to Spectrum and some other carriers last Sept.
Disney is trying to force carriers to guarantee that a minimum of 80% of their carrier clients will be forced to purchase ESPN. To compound issues, they are forcing Disney and their other channels on any package that includes ESPN. Carriers are wanting to offer a la carte pkgs so they can offer much less expensive deals to customers. Disney is bucking against allowing customers to pick and choose specific channels while wanting guaranteed minimum (80%) of carrier customers to be forced to purchase Disney package
Carriers have lost 50% of subscribers over the last 10 years because they cannot offer less expensive packages due to these contracts.
Disney/ESPN has lost money due to many families cutting television carriers and not purchasing the Disney/ESPN channels.
I support DirectTV in this dispute! Disney should not be able to dictate that carriers MUST sale a certain percentage of carrier customers the Disney/ESPN package in order to have access to it for the other customers.
You can guarantee Disney will come after YouTube TV and other carriers when they renegotiate their next contract. It was Spectrum last year, Direct TV this year, and it will be another carrier next September.
A group of carriers are suing Disney accusing them of anticompetitive practices by forcing them to include Disney channels on their least expensive packages, or risk not having any access to the Disney/EsPN channels. Part of the current negotiations include Disney pushing for Direct not to sue them for anticompetitive practices.
Someone needs to stand up to Disney/ESPN …. But I want to watch UK football this fall w/o switching from the company that is standing up to them. Now, that’s a pickle!!’