Disney networks off DirecTV, including ABC 7 Chicago

Networks disappeared a few minutes after 6 p.m. Central Time

The impasse between Disney and DirecTV has resulted in a blackout of their channels, with Disney pulling the plug a little after 6 p.m. Central Time Sunday.

If you are a DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, or U-Verse subscriber, you no longer receive ESPN and its family of networks, Freeform, FX, National Geographic, and others. ABC-owned stations are also blacked out, including WLS-TV Chicago (ABC 7), and all ABC stations and their related non-Big Four duopoly stations are off DirecTV Stream as the network handled retrans negotiations differently.

First, a statement from Disney:

Here’s DirecTV’s side of the story:

Even the USTA got in on the fun and took Disney’s side as an in-progress US Open tennis match was abruptly cut off:

There was no written mention of the DirecTV blackout on ABC 7’s website and social media pages or any other ABC-owned stations, although a Taboola-like” ad” was placed. Hearst’s ABC affiliate websites – including WCVB Boston and WISN-TV Milwaukee, did mention the impasse impacting carriage on the DirecTV stream on their sites. Aside from a crawl Disney ran for DirecTV customers during programming Saturday night – and unlike WGN when they were in a similar position last year, ABC 7 did not publish any red flag warnings on its website or any air promo warning of blackouts. 

You can read about the backstory of Disney and DirecTV’s current impasse in an earlier report this site posted Sunday. Disney nearly pulled their signals off DirecTV in September 2019 but made a last-minute deal to avert a blackout. 

This is the fourth blackout of local stations for Chicago DirecTV subscribers in the last twelve years. In addition to last year’s blackout, WGN-TV was off DirecTV in 2012 for three days under former parent Tribune Media. In 2019, then-CBS Corporation’s channels, including CBS Chicago (WBBM-TV), were off DirecTV for months, resulting in a ratings drop for the station. 

There’s a possibility an agreement could be reached before the NFL season starts next week, with ESPN and ABC carrying Monday Night Football featuring the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers with the anticipated return of Jets QB Aaron Rodgers after sitting out last year during getting injured after just four plays in the first MNF game of the season. The impasse also affects Tuesday night’s Bachelorette finale, and you can expect “Bachelor Nation” to be up in arms on Twitter, so grab the popcorn.