Dish Network and its Sling TV streaming service have withdrawn Disney’s channel bundle due to a contract dispute (via Deadline). Dish states on its website that the Disney Channel, ESPN, FX, Freeform, National Geographic, and other local ABC networks are no longer accessible on its services since their contract ended this morning.
Dish blames Disney for the conflict, stating that the business wanted a $1 billion price rise and “walked away from the bargaining table.” According to the satellite operator, Disney requested that Dish include ESPN, ESPN2, and local ABC channels at an additional fee in bundles that do not contain them.
As a result of the dispute, the following channels will no longer be available on Dish or Sling TV: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, ESPN Deportes, Disney Channel, Disney Jr., Disney XD, Freeform, FX, FXX, FXM, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Mundo, ACC Network, SEC Network, Longhorn Network, Baby TV, Chicago, IL (WLS), Fresno, CA (KFSN (KGO).
The conflict between Dish and Disney comes only a few days after Dish suspended the Sony-owned Game Show Network for three weeks after failing to reach an agreement. Last year, Disney clashed with YouTube TV over similar issues, culminating in the removal of Disney, ESPN, and other Disney-owned channels from Google’s service for around two days. Even though these conflicts are often fleeting, it is still unethical for corporations to place viewers in the center of the debate.
