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Satellite tv for pc TV supplier DirecTV has filed a grievance with the U.S. Federal Communications Fee, accusing Walt Disney of failing to barter in good religion and interesting in anticompetitive habits, the corporate mentioned on Sunday.
Within the grievance, DirecTV mentioned Disney has imposed unreasonable circumstances on the renewal of their distribution settlement, together with calls for for bundling and penetration necessities {that a} federal court docket just lately dominated illegal.
DirecTV additionally mentioned that Disney has insisted on a “fats bundle” of channels, forcing the provider to supply much less well-liked programming whereas Disney supplies customers with cheaper, “skinnier” packages.
A Disney spokesperson, in response, mentioned the corporate continues to barter with DirecTV and urged it to finalize a deal that might prioritize prospects.
“We proceed to barter with DirecTV to revive entry to our content material as rapidly as attainable,” the spokesperson mentioned in an emailed assertion to Reuters.
The dispute has already resulted in over 11 million DirecTV subscribers dropping entry to Disney-owned channels, together with ESPN, forward of the Nationwide Soccer League season.
The standoff comes amid a broader debate over the way forward for bundled programming within the streaming period, with DirecTV searching for to supply extra versatile, lower-cost packages with out ESPN, whereas Disney argues for shielding its flagship networks.
