On Sunday, college football opted to have the USC Trojans and the LSU Trojans play an epic neutral field battle in a primetime, standalone time slot. However, some fans were left in the dark, with TV provider DirecTV choosing to pull ESPN from their channel catalog an hour before kickoff amid a carriage dispute.
Those who use DirecTV were greeted with a blanket statement when trying to tune into the epic clash between USC and LSU. “Our contract with Disney, the owner of this channel, has expired,” read DirecTV screens across the country when attempting to consume the ranked-on-ranked contest on ESPN. Naturally, college football fans were furious over ESPN being yanked away from them just minutes before arguably the best opening weekend matchup.
DirecTV Pulls ESPN Ahead of LSU Tigers Tilt with USC Trojans
According to the ESPN PR Twitter account:
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. While we’re open to offering DirecTV flexibility and terms which we’ve extended to other distributors, we will not enter an agreement that undervalues our portfolio of television channels and programs.
During a three-game stretch on Saturday, ESPN averaged 7.6 million viewers. This weekend, on Saturday night, ESPN housed all three ranked matchups, including a historic back-and-forth between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Texas A&M Aggies. DirecTV’s current ban on Disney-controlled channels will keep their customers from enjoying exclusive college football games on ESPN. Additionally, DirecTV consumers will be without Monday Night Baseball, FX, and National Geographic.
College football fans who planned to enjoy their Sunday night with a neutral site matchup between the LSU Tigers and USC Trojans were left speechless when DirecTV pulled the plug on ESPN shortly before kickoff. Those who subscribe to DirecTV were incredibly disappointed, taking to Twitter to lash out at the TV provider:
Hey @DIRECTV if I wake up tomorrow without ESPN…I’m gone. It’s just that simple.
— Mike Baxter (@mike_baxter22) September 1, 2024
What @directv just did is grimey. To do this to your customers in the middle of the US Open, MLB, and college football on a holiday weekend when millions of people are warching @espn is bad business for YOUR customers.
— Nicole (@nikkinicole1908) September 1, 2024
LSU fans showing up at the DirecTV headquarters to burn it down
— Riley (@Ri_S_OB) September 1, 2024
DirecTV just blacked out all of the ESPN channels, right in the middle of a US Open match. Both sides are ass🤡s. Fix the problem. pic.twitter.com/HlqcMloClA
— Dan Needles (@dneedles12) September 1, 2024
DIRECTV is already having issues with losing customers..I have been one for 20+ years and if ESPN isn’t restored quickly I am gone. This is silly
— PDeSanChief (NYY/ALCS 1-0)(KC 5-0)(NYK ) (@PDeSanChief) September 1, 2024
DirecTV losing ESPN and ABC before the USC – LSU game
Me: pic.twitter.com/DyT9zmhy8C
— Blake Garman (@FrostedBlakes34) September 1, 2024
@DIRECTV I look forward to my bill being reduced since @espn is no longer available on Directv.
— J Morgan 🇺🇸 (@Jmorganstl) September 1, 2024
If ESPN isn’t back on my TV by tomorrow morning, that’s the end of the line for me @DIRECTV
FIGURE IT OUT!!!
— Jeff Kowalski (@jjbrwrsfan) September 1, 2024
@DIRECTV after 25 years of being a loyal customer, I am cancelling DTV and I encourage you to do the same. Thank you not covering the us open … just great
— jk (@txfueltrader) September 2, 2024
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