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College football fans go nuts as DirecTV blacks out ESPN ahead of LSU-USC matchup
By Paul Harvey
Published:
College football fans have been treated to a jam-packed Week 1 of action with the full return of the sport we all know and love. Unfortunately, fans who utilize DirecTV were greeted by a rude surprise Sunday evening.
The Sunday night matchup between LSU and USC in Las Vegas is one of the marquee events of the entire weekend. However, fans using DirecTV were greeted by a blackout notice just minutes ahead of kickoff.
ESPN was quick to acknowledge the blackout via a statement from Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Dana Walden and Alan Bergman and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. According to that statement, negotiations between DirecTV and Disney have broken down, and Disney claims DirecTV “chose to deny millions of subscribers access to our content” at an inopportune moment.
Here is the statement:
DirecTV chose to deny millions of subscribers access to our content just as we head into the final week of the US Open and gear up for college football and the opening of the NFL season. 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. We urge DirecTV to do what’s in the best interest of their customers and finalize a deal that would immediately restore our programming.
Statement from The Walt Disney Company and ESPN regarding DirecTV
More: https://t.co/KYeyXFlU9u pic.twitter.com/jRZ8v7tz7N
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) September 1, 2024
As one might expect, the college football fans trusting DirecTV for their coverage of the season were not thrilled by the announcement. It left many fans without access to one of the biggest games of the weekend moments ahead of kickoff.
Here’s a look at how fans sounded off on social media:
Did @DIRECTV @DIRECTVhelp really just kill the @espn @SECNetwork @ABCNetwork feeds right before the HUGE @LSUfootball game?!?!!! What am I paying for then?!?!! Furious!!
— Scott McDaniel (@ScottM_MBOBR) September 1, 2024
WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CANT WATCH THE LSU GAME!?! https://t.co/SGuGVFQdAW
GET BENT @Disney @DIRECTV @espn @WGNOtv @ABC
This is HORSE HOCKEY.
— Grinch (@GrinchLaw) September 1, 2024
#USC vs. #LSU kicks off on ABC/ESPN but apparently @DIRECTV took those channels off their lineup? Anyone confirm that? Seeing people in our chat talk about it.
— Ryan Abraham (@insidetroy) September 1, 2024
ESPN goes dark on DirecTV just before the USC-LSU game.
— John Ourand (@Ourand_Puck) September 1, 2024
This is cold blooded negotiating. All ESPN channels including ABC on direct tv look like this a half hour before USC/LSU kicks off. pic.twitter.com/BaxpWCybWl
— Adam Auslund (@followAdamA) September 1, 2024
ESPN pulling the plug on DirectTV right at the start of the USC-LSU game is NUTS!!
— Amber (@stoneeffect) September 1, 2024
Well @DIRECTV blacked out ABC and ESPN after I ordered a large delivery order to have friends over for LSU-USC.
I will be canceling and switching to YouTube TV again I guess!
— Kendall (@kendallkaut) September 1, 2024
@DIRECTV figure out how I can watch the SC/LSU game. Absolutely crap job on your part
— Jake Spieth (@jakevieth2) September 1, 2024
Right in the middle of LSU pregame on SEC network we get this from @DirectTV. Tomorrow I am cancelling Direct. Done with this BS. 6:00 on Sunday night. pic.twitter.com/XZAzucqFW5
— Jane (@OrthoA) September 1, 2024
@DIRECTV cancelled their contract with ESPN/Disney literally minutes before LSU game????? Are you sick???? Na there’s a special HOT place for you. #DirecTVDWEEBS
— BW (@BDUBWiLLi) September 1, 2024
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
