According to Deadline, Disney networks, including ABC, ESPN, FX, and Disney Channel, have returned to Dish and Sling TV after both sides reached a tentative agreement. Disney’s 17 channels disappeared from the services on Friday, Oct. 1, due to a carriage dispute.
“We have reached a handshake agreement with Dish/Sling TV, which properly reflects fair market value and terms for The Walt Disney Company’s… content,” a Disney spokesperson stated. “As a result, we are pleased to restore our portfolio of networks on a temporary basis while both parties work to finalize a new deal.”
Dish had accused Disney of holding viewers hostage to get a better bargaining position, claiming it wanted to include ESPN and ESPN2 in non-sports packages. For its part, Disney said Dish didn’t make a fair offer to keep ESPN and National Geographic on Dish/Sling TV.
“After months of negotiating in good faith, Dish has declined to reach a fair, market-based agreement with us for continued distribution of our networks,” the company told Variety in a statement on Friday.
There was a similar misunderstanding last year. In December, Disney channels disappeared from YouTube TV because of a similar dispute and returned just a day later. Meanwhile, HBO and Cinemax disappeared from Dish in 2018, only to reappear last year (along with HBO Max).
