(NewsNation) — Despite the current dispute between DirecTV and Disney, customers of the satellite television service will still be able to watch the 2024 presidential debate between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.
Disney channels, including ESPN and ABC-owned affiliate stations in nine markets, have been off DirecTV since the evening of Sept. 1 after the two companies failed to reach an agreement. Disney-branded channels like Freeform, FX and National Geographic channel are dark as well.
How to watch the presidential debate on DirecTV
DirecTV, however, says its customers will still have “access to this live event” in a statement to Fox Business.
“C-SPAN, the other major broadcast networks besides ABC, and multiple national news and commentary channels, will simulcast ABC News coverage of the debate, which begins at 9 p.m. EDT from Philadelphia,” the statement said in part.
NewsNation is one of the channels included in this simulcast. You can find your channel at joinnn.com or by downloading the NewsNation app. NewsNation will have special coverage of the debate beginning with a special edition of “On Balance with Leland Vittert” live from Philadelphia at 7 p.m. ET. Chris Cuomo gets you ready for the debate at 8 p.m. before The ABC News Presidential Debate Simulcast begins at 9 p.m. When it’s over, Cuomo will break down what we saw and what will happen next.
ABC News’ David Muir is set to host the 90-minute debate at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. It’s the first debate between Harris and Trump, but the second of this election cycle, as Trump and President Joe Biden debated before Biden dropped out of the race.
DirecTV versus Disney
DirecTV on Saturday filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, alleging that Disney is negotiating in bad faith. With 11.3 million subscribers, according to the Leichtman Research Group, DirecTV is the nation’s third-largest pay TV provider.
According to its 10-page complaint, DirecTV claims Disney is violating the FCC’s good faith mandates by asking it to waive legal claims on any anticompetitive actions.
Included in this is the option to provide consumers with cheaper and skinnier bundles of programming, instead of bigger bundles with programs some viewers might not be interested in.
“Along with these anticompetitive demands, Disney has also insisted that DirecTV agree to a ‘clean slate’ provision and a covenant not to sue, both of which are intended to prevent DirecTV from taking legal action regarding Disney’s anticompetitive demands, which would include filing good faith complaints at the Commission,” DirecTV said in the complaint. “Not three months ago, however, the Media Bureau made clear that such a demand itself constitutes bad faith.”
Meanwhile, Disney claims a mutual release of claims is standard practice after licensing agreements are negotiated and agreed upon by the parties.
“We continue to negotiate with DirecTV to restore access to our content as quickly as possible. We urge DirecTV to stop creating diversions and instead prioritize their customers by finalizing a deal that would allow their subscribers to watch our strong upcoming lineup of sports, news and entertainment programming, starting with the return of Monday Night Football,” a spokesperson said to the Associated Press.
Besides the debate, DirecTV customers missed out on the NFL’s “Monday Night Football” game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets, parts of the U.S. Open and the first full weekend of the college football season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.