South Raleigh News

Today, Governor Roy Cooper sent a letter to the Walt Disney Company and DirecTV urging them to end their dispute and come to a broadcast agreement that would allow North Carolina customers to access the services they’ve paid for and view Atlantic Coast Conference football games and other popular sporting events.

Governor Cooper called on Disney and DirecTV to find a solution, writing, "A troubling pattern has emerged in recent years of media companies that make little progress in these contract negotiations until their customers feel the real pain. That means the start of popular sporting events, particularly college football season, which leaves your customers in the lurch. This is an unacceptable practice and I encourage you to quickly resolve this dispute."

In his letter, Governor Cooper expressed concern on behalf of many North Carolinians who were unable to watch their favorite sports teams over Labor Day weekend due to the ongoing dispute between DirecTV and Disney. He noted that ESPN networks (ESPN, ESPN 2, ACC Network, SEC Network) along with other popular channels went dark.

"A troubling pattern has emerged in recent years of media companies that make little progress in these contract negotiations until their customers feel the real pain," he reiterated. "That means the start of popular sporting events, particularly college football season, which leaves your customers in the lurch. This is an unacceptable practice and I encourage you to quickly resolve this dispute."

Governor Cooper highlighted that many families are making hard budget decisions amid rising everyday costs and have chosen to spend their money with these companies. "Right now, you are not delivering," he stated.

"Your customers want you to settle this dispute right away. As an avid sports fan myself, I second that sentiment," Cooper added.

He emphasized North Carolinians' passion for sports and how frustrating it was for them when Disney’s programming was pulled just before a nationally televised college football game between LSU and the University of Southern California. The blackout also affected other events like the US Open Tennis Championships.

"I urge you to work around the clock to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible," concluded Governor Cooper.

Sincerely,

Roy Cooper

###