ESPN fans fume ‘I can’t watch First Take’ and tell DirecTV ‘get it together’ as blackout continues ahead of NFL kick-off

FIRST Take viewers raged after being unable to watch their favorite sports debate show due to Disney’s financial dispute with DirecTV.

ESPN and other Disney -owned channels were pulled from the cable provider after the two sides were unable to strike a new deal before Sunday’s deadline.

ESPN/First Take

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For DirecTV customers, that meant they couldn’t watch the blockbuster college football game between the University of Southern California and Louisiana State University , which kicked off shortly after the blackout started.

They also missed out on Monday’s Boston College-Florida State matchup and 2024 US Open matches as it reached Round of 16 — as well as the first two episodes of this week’s First Take .

Fans of the show expressed their discontent on social media after being unable to tune in.

“I hate you @DIRECTV. How you let one of your biggest channels contract expire. I know it’s out your hands but dayum!!! I can’t watch @espn @FirstTake this is silly af. Lol,” one wrote.

“My mornings consist of watching @FirstTake on @espn which I’m not able to do now! Get it together @Disney and @DIRECTV,” another added.

A third wrote in response to a Tuesday clip of Stephen A. Smith revealing his top-five NFL power rankings ahead of the 2024 season kick-off, “It’s sad that @DIRECTV isn’t showing no @Disney channels! Work out your contract dispute.”

The outage happened just a year after Disney got into a similar dispute with Charter Spectrum.

Once the blackout started, DirecTV customers were greeted with a black screen and a message about the failed distribution deal extension when they tried to access ESPN or other Disney-owned networks.

“Our contract with Disney, the owner of this channel, has expired,” the message read.

“We appreciate your patience while we negotiate to offer you greater flexibility, choice, and value.”

Both Disney and DirecTV released strong statements after their current contract expired on Sunday.

“DirecTV chose to deny millions of subscribers access to our content just as we head into the final week of the US Open and gear up for college football and the opening of the NFL season,” Disney executives said .

“While we’re open to offering DirecTV flexibility and terms which we’ve extended to other distributors, we will not enter into an agreement that undervalues our portfolio of television channels and programs.

“We invest significantly to deliver the No. 1 brands in entertainment, news, and sports because that’s what our viewers expect and deserve.

NFL important dates

August 1 - Hall of Fame Game - Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears

August 8 – Pre-season begins

August 27 – Deadline for 53-man rosters

September 1 – Final day of pre-season

September 5 – Season opener – Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs

November 5 – Trade deadline

January 5 – Week 18 of regular-season

January 11 – Playoffs begin

February 9 – Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana

“We urge DirecTV to do what’s in the best interest of their customers and finalize a deal that would immediately restore our programming.”

Meanwhile, DirectTV chief content officer Rob Thun accused Disney of profit-chasing.

“The Walt Disney Co. is once again refusing any accountability to consumers, distribution partners, and now the American judicial system,” Thun said in a statement.

“Disney is in the business of creating alternate realities, but this is the real world where we believe you earn your way and must answer for your own actions.

“They want to continue to chase maximum profits and dominant control at the expense of consumers – making it harder for them to select the shows and sports they want at a reasonable price.”

It remains to be seen whether the two sides can find a new agreement before ESPN broadcasts the Monday Night Football clash between the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.