As the closely contested election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump approaches, a carriage dispute between the Walt Disney Company and DirecTV threatens to impact the broadcast of their upcoming debate.
Scheduled for September 10 on ABC, the debate is set to be a pivotal moment in the race, but millions of DirecTV subscribers nationwide may be unable to watch it on the network due to the ongoing blackout of Disney channels.
The blackout, which began when Disney’s contract with DirecTV expired on September 1, has affected 11.3 million DirecTV subscribers, cutting off access to ABC, ESPN, FX, and other popular channels. Although both sides remain in contact, no active discussions were taking place as of Tuesday, leaving the fate of the broadcast in limbo.
DirecTV CEO Ray Carpenter has downplayed expectations that the dispute will be resolved before September 9, when ABC and other Disney-owned channels are set to air the NFL’s Monday Night Football. Carpenter emphasized the company’s focus on long-term solutions, aiming to reduce the “bloated” packages that have contributed to cord-cutting among consumers.
Despite the blackout, viewers will still have options to watch the debate. ABC announced that the event, moderated by Linsey Davis and David Muir, will be simulcast on other networks and available for streaming on platforms like Hulu, Disney+, and ABC News Live. However, the Harris and Trump campaigns have not commented on the potential impact of the blackout.
Industry experts suggest that the blackout may not significantly affect viewership, given the multiple outlets available for watching the debate. Alan Schroeder, author of Presidential Debates: 50 Years of High Risk TV, noted that when CNN hosted a debate in June, only about a quarter of the audience watched on the host network, with the majority tuning in through other channels and platforms.
While the dispute has disrupted popular programming, including college football and the U.S. Open, the Harris-Trump debate remains a high-stakes event that could influence millions of voters. With mail-in voting starting in several states and absentee ballots already being sent out, the debate’s timing is crucial as voters make their decisions.
With input from Deadline.
