College football fans with DirecTV subscriptions scrambled for a new way to watch games after the company's contract dispute with Disney caused sudden blackouts Sunday. If the channels lost do not come back on the air by Saturday, Louisville customers might need to make new arrangements if they want to see the Cardinals on TV.
When a five-year deal between DirecTV and Disney expired, customers lost access to a lineup of Disney-owned channels, including ESPN, FX and National Geographic.
If the contract holdup continues for multiple weeks, some Louisville and Kentucky fans may be left in the dark whenever a game airs on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and the ACC and SEC networks.
For Cards and Cats fans seeking to cut ties with DirecTV, there are a few ways to bring ESPN football games back into the living room.
More: When will DirecTV have ESPN, Disney Channel back? What to know about the dispute
DirecTV customers will not be able to watch the Cards with their subscription this weekend if an agreement is not reached. Louisville's matchup with Jacksonville State will air Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network Extra, which requires a subscription to a TV provider for access. Viewers are not able to subscribe to ACC Network Extra through ESPN's streaming service, known as ESPN+.
Most Kentucky football fans are in luck Saturday. The Wildcats' game against South Carolina will be televised on ABC. The only ABC station s dropped from DirecTV packages are those owned by Disney , which include:
- ABC7 Chicago
- ABC7 Los Angeles
- ABC7 New York
- ABC6 Philadelphia
- ABC11 Raleigh-Durham
- ABC13 Houston
- ABC30 Fresno
Most of the upcoming games on the schedule do not have an assigned channel yet. Kentucky 's Sept. 21 game vs. Ohio will air on the SEC Network, while Louisville 's Oct. 25 contest against Boston College is set to air on ESPN2. Both channels are owned by Disney.
More: Kentucky vs South Carolina football first look: Odds, keys to game, players to watch, more
ESPN+
ESPN+ is the streaming service owned by ESPN and The Walt Disney Co. ESPN+ does not provide access to ESPN's traditional TV content, but it does air other shows and sporting events.
Plans for just ESPN+ start at $10.99 a month , but there are bundles available, which also include Hulu and Disney+, that cost $14.99 a month .
YouTube TV
You can stream major broadcasts and cable networks, including ESPN, with YouTube TV .
New users can start with a free trial, but then only play $64.99 per month for the first four months, then $72.99 per month after that.
Sling TV
Sling TV's Orange plan has 34 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3 and Disney Channel. Right now, get your first month of Sling Orange for $20. The subscription charge is $40 per month after that.
Fubo
Fubo offers ESPN and other channels, plus the ability to record your favorite shows to the Cloud DVR. The subscription service is $79.99 per month .
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV offers over 90 channels, including ESPN, plus access to ESPN+ and Disney+. Get a subscription for $76.99 a month.
Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@gannett.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter
More: Louisville football in first regular-season AP Top 25, coaches poll ahead of Week 2 game
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Will Kentucky, Louisville football games air on DirecTV if Disney dispute continues? What we know
Most Popular
Comments / 0