How to Claim Your $20 DirecTV Credit Amid Disney Dispute

More than 11 million DirecTV subscribers experienced a sudden loss of access to Disney Entertainment channels over the weekend. This outage disrupted viewers who were watching major sporting events on ESPN, such as college football and the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

The disruption occurred due to an ongoing dispute over a new carriage agreement between the major carrier and the entertainment company. After failing to reach a mutual agreement, various Disney channels, including ESPN, Freeform, FX, and National Geographic, went dark on DirecTV on Sunday night. Fans were particularly inconvenienced as ESPN was broadcasting the fourth round of the U.S. Open when the blackout occurred.

Currently, it’s unclear when the standoff between DirecTV and Disney will be resolved. In the meantime, DirecTV is offering affected customers a $20 bill credit. However, subscribers will need to take a few steps to receive this credit.

If you are a DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, or U-Verse customer, you’ll need to apply for the bill credit online. First, you must specify the service you use and enter your zip code. Then, under the “explore bill credits” section, you must choose how you receive your service. If you get DirecTV through a satellite, you’ll need to provide the email address connected to your account. If you access the service online, you’ll need to log in.

DirecTV advises that your account must remain active until the credit has been applied, which may take up to two billing cycles. For additional details, you can visit DirecTV’s website.

As of now, there is no clear timeline on when the two companies will reach an agreement. DirecTV has stated that Disney offered an extension to keep the channels on air in exchange for DirecTV waiving all future legal claims of anti-competitive behavior. Rob Thun, DirecTV’s chief content officer, criticized Disney for its lack of accountability to consumers, distribution partners, and the American judicial system. He argued that Disney is more focused on maximizing profits and maintaining dominant control at the expense of consumers.

On the other hand, Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, co-chairmen of Disney Entertainment, along with ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, urged DirecTV to finalize a deal. In a joint statement, they emphasized that while they are open to offering DirecTV the same flexibility and terms given to other distributors, they will not sign an agreement that undervalues their portfolio of television channels and programs. They highlighted their substantial investment in delivering top-tier entertainment, news, and sports content, which they believe their viewers expect and deserve.

Last year, Disney had a similar standoff with Spectrum, which lasted nearly 12 days before an agreement was reached just hours before the first Monday night NFL game of the season.

DirecTV has assured customers that, since Disney-owned channels ESPN and ABC only air one NFL game per week, their favorite team is unlikely to play on Monday night until later in the season. Therefore, there is enough time to come to a new agreement. The first Monday night game, featuring the New York Jets and the San Francisco 49ers, is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 9.

College football fans may face more significant disruptions. DirecTV notes that ACC and SEC teams predominantly play games on Disney-owned channels. Customers are encouraged to check team schedules to see where games will be aired.

The carrier also said it is pursuing every avenue to restore the programming before ABC’s primetime series return in mid-September.

Source: Nexstar Media Inc., The Associated Press