Disney Will Give DirecTV Customers Access to ABC News’ Kamala Harris-Donald Trump Debate Amid Contract Standoff

Disney networks including ESPN and ABC remain dark on DirecTV amid a carriage feud for a ninth day (and counting). But for Tuesday night’s presidential debate between VP Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, the media company will temporarily provide DirecTV access to ABC News‘ coverage.

“As we announced in May, the ABC News presidential debate will be widely available across broadcast, cable and streaming,” Disney said in a statement. “Although we have yet to reach an agreement [with DirecTV], we are providing a three-hour feed of ABC News coverage to all impacted DirecTV customers at no cost because we want all Americans to be able to view tonight’s debate at this important moment in our history.”

Disney added, “We remain at the table negotiating with DirecTV and the restoration of our programming to their subscribers is completely within their control.”

Disney’s distribution agreement with DirecTV expired Sept. 1, following months of back-and-forth without resolution. As Disney and DirecTV haggled over terms of the new deal, DirecTV’s more than 11 million satellite and streaming customers have missed a slew of sports programming that aired across ESPN and ABC, including college football, the U.S. Open and the Sept. 9 kickoff of this season’s highly rated “Monday Night Football” telecast.

Last week, after Disney’s channels went dark, DirecTV announced a price increase set to take effect Oct. 6 that angered customers.

Over the weekend, DirecTV filed a formal complaint with the FCC alleging Disney had failed to engage in good-faith negotiations, citing the media company’s requirement that DirecTV waive legal claims. Disney countered that such agreements are standard (and were actually included in previous renewals with DirecTV), suggesting DirecTV itself was acting in bad faith.