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How to Watch NFL, NCAAF Without ESPN, ABC


While the DirecTV-Disney dispute continues, with ESPN and other networks being blocked from subscribers, the college and pro football schedules continue as normal. Here’s how to make sure you don’t miss any of the action.

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While the NFL season gets underway on Thursday, another game is taking place that will impact 11 million TV viewers who will be unable to watch certain sports and other programming.

DirecTV and Disney are negotiating a new contract that will allow DirecTV’s satellite and streaming services — and AT&T’s U-Verse TV — to carry ESPN, Disney Channel, FX and other Disney-owned networks and channels.

All of those channels went offline on Sunday, September 1, when DirecTV’s five-year contract with Disney expired. For the time being, DirecTV subscribers will not be able to watch those channels, along with ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU, ESPN News, ACC Network, SEC Network, Disney Junior and National Geographic.

Also unavailable: eight of Disney’s ABC stations, including channels in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

Negotiations are still ongoing, but if no solution is found, sports fans will miss a large number of sporting events in the coming days.

The US Open tennis finals begin Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN with the women’s semifinals. The men’s semifinals are scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. ET. The women’s final is at 4 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN. The men’s final is at 2 p.m. ET Sunday on ABC.

DirecTV-Disney Dispute: DirecTV subscribers can get a $20 credit for the Disney/ESPN blackout. Here’s how to sign up

Which NFL and college football games are coming soon to ESPN?

Upcoming American football games on ESPN and the Disney networks on Saturday, September 7 (all times Eastern Time):

  • Afternoon: Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State (ABC and ESPN+), Kansas State vs. Tulane (ESPN), Georgia Tech vs. Syracuse (ACC Network), Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati (ESPN2), Troy vs. Memphis (ESPNU).
  • 12:45 pm: McNeese vs. Texas A&M (SEC Network)
  • 3:30 pm: California vs. Auburn (ESPN2)
  • 3:30 pm: South Carolina vs. Kentucky (ABC and ESPN+)
  • 4:00 PM: University of Texas-San Antonio vs. Texas State (ESPNU)
  • 4:15 pm: Middle Tennessee vs. Mississippi (SEC Network)
  • 7:00 PM: South Florida vs. Alabama (ESPN)
  • 7:00 PM: Virginia vs. Wake Forest (ESPN2)
  • 7:30 pm: Tennessee vs. NC State (ABC and ESPN+) and Houston vs. Oklahoma (SEC Network)
  • 8:00 PM: Appalachian State vs. Clemson (ACC Network)
  • 22:15 hrs: Liberty vs. New Mexico State (ESPN2)
  • 22:30 hrs: Mississippi State vs. Arizona State (ESPN)

NFL games: Upcoming games on Disney Channels include:

  • Monday September 9: New York Jets vs. San Francisco 49ers at 8:20 p.m. on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+; The ManningCast with Peyton and Eli Manning is on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
  • Monday September 16: Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles (ESPN); ManningCast on ESPN2. (Note: Not scheduled for ESPN+.)

DirecTV-Disney Blackout: How Can Subscribers Watch ESPN and Other Sports Channels?

If you want to watch upcoming American football and NFL games on ESPN and its networks, you have the following options:

  • ESPN+: You can get a standalone subscription to the streaming service for $10.99 per month. You can also get it as part of a Disney bundle with services including Disney+ and Hulu, starting at $14.99 per month.
  • Fubo: This streaming service, which includes ESPN and local channels including ABC where available, offers a seven-day free trial. After that, it costs $49.99 for the first month and $79.99 per month thereafter. That base Pro subscription gets you at least 185 live channels, including ESPN2, ACC Network Disney, Disney JR., Disney XD, Freeform FX, FXX and National Geographic. The Elite with Sports Plus package ($69.99 first month; $99.99 per month thereafter) gets you ESPNU, ESPNews, SEC Network and NFL RedZone.
  • Hulu + Live TV: This Disney-owned streaming service has a three-day trial and starts at $76.99 per month for over 95 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, ACC Network, SEC Network, Disney, Disney JR., Disney XD, Freeform FX, FXX, FX Movies, National Geographic, National Geographic Wild. The $76.99 subscription also gets you Disney+ (with ads) and ESPN+ (with ads). You also get access to the streaming service Hulu, which features original programming including “Only Murders in the Building.” You can pay more to avoid commercials and get additional channels like NFL RedZone.
  • Sling TV: Sling Orange (no free trial, $15 your first month, then $40 per month) offers 35 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3, Disney Channel, Freeform. But sports fans will want to add Sling Blue and the Sports Extra package ($45 your first month, then $70 per month), which gives you a whopping 74 channels, including the ACC Network, ESPNU, ESPNews, the SEC Network, NFL RedZone, and local Fox and NBC networks (where available).
  • YouTube TV: The streaming service currently has a “Try 3 Weeks Free” offer on its site . After that, your first four months of the YouTube TV Base Plan are $64.99 per month. That increases to $72.99 in month five. YouTube TV has more than 100 channels, including those affected by the blackout: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, Disney Channel, Disney Jr., Disney XC, FX, FXM, FXX, Freeform, ACC Network, SEC Network, National Geographic and National Geographic Wild (plus local ABC channels, which are also blocked in nine cities).
  • Try a digital antenna: Getting ESPN+ or the Disney bundle isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, as the app doesn’t stream every event on ESPN’s lineup of networks, Ross Benes, senior TV and streaming analyst for eMarketer, told USA TODAY. However, a digital antenna can be used to get ABC and other major networks on your digital TV for free. However, he said, “not only do you have to buy the antenna, you have to mount it near a window or outside, point it in the direction of the station, hope you’re in range of the signal, and hope there’s nothing blocking your transmission.”

Probably your easiest — though more expensive — bet is to subscribe to a live streaming TV service like Fubo or YouTube TV, he said. “But be aware, digital cable is also susceptible to retransmission disputes,” he said. “Digital cable has more flexibility to cancel when your sports season is over or if they drop channels.”

When will the dispute between DirecTV and Disney end?

It’s hard to say. Both sides told USA TODAY that talks were active and ongoing. But rancorous public attacks suggest the stalemate won’t end anytime soon.

Ray Carpenter, DirecTV’s chief financial officer, told analysts on a conference call Tuesday that DirecTV had asked Disney to let viewers watch the USC-LSU football game on Sunday night, but instead took a “hostile stance toward our customers” and called for a blackout.

Disney and ESPN executives accused DirecTV of “continuing to distort the facts surrounding our ongoing negotiations,” saying DirecTV would waive any future legal claims against Disney in order to reach a deal.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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