Unbelievable Message Sent by DirecTV!

A lot of those emails are automated, and may still be required to go out depending on contractual obligations. And it may be general, not specifically referencing ESPN.

If it doesn't apply to you or you just don't like it, delete that email and move on with your day. But if creating an account to post about it helped you feel better, then ok. Either way, hope negotiations don't go on too much longer but I suspect it may be days still knowing how much of a powerhouse Disney is.

Jupiter - Yes, it made me feel better :)

You know, this is not the first time that DTV has had contracts expire and cut channels off to customers.  I recall at least one other time in the last few years.  We can either take our business elsewhere or, if we want to continue to use this product, express our displeasure as best we can to help drive change.  DTV knew when this contract would expire.  They did not do their homework and/or work hard enough on behalf of their 11 MILLION subscribers who now suffer the loss of access we expected.  They need to do better.  Posting on a public forum is one way in which I express my frustration and bring some shame to those responsible.   And the ridiculous email they sent today was the straw that broke this camel's back about finding a way to vent...if someone at DTV truly cared, they would have pulled the plug on it and suffered the consequences in doing so rather than rubbing salt in our wounds.

DTV doesn't cut off the channels the owners remove the feed when they could leave them on.

DirecTV would prefer the channels stay on. Unfortunately when the carriage agreement ends when a new deal hasn't been struck yet, Disney had a choice as they own the broadcast rights. They either leave the channels on as a sign of good faith while the negotiations continue or they pull the feed until those talks are complete. They chose the latter.

I think it is a false claim, not based in any fact, to say that DirecTV did not do their homework or work hard enough. That sounds like just your frustration talking. Disney wants to paid more than DirecTV sees as reasonable. Remember, the more DirecTV has to pay the more you as the consumer have to pay like the rest of us.

There is no shame to go anywhere. They are both businesses working to get the best deal they can. With many things in the world I would say should be shameful, having a few TV channels in negotiation would not be one of them.

An automated email like that I view similar to other junk mail. I glance at it and if it is not for me, don't like it or such, then I trash it and don't give it a second thought. Sure the timing of it wasn't great, but I think they have more important things to consider right now. So I wouldn't make a mountain out of a molehill.

My concern is that Disney (as well as local affiliate station owners, etc.) have the standard practice of having these agreements end around a critical time for sports. This allows them to do this when they can upset the viewers as much as possible to try and leverage them against the TV provider (not just DirecTV) to push for higher rates. Then when the next bill adjustment comes around everyone is complaining again, seemingly not comprehending what lead to the new cost. It is a vicious cycle.

a friend of mine has Dish.   due to a non-carriage agreement renewal w/local Fox channels, they went without local Fox for about 2 yrs.     

I wouldn't be surprised if this  happens in streaming when those companies change their products/offering.

DTV still hasn't reach an agreement with White Night to return Fox channels to parts of the US and you are correct carriage agreements effect streaming services also.