Disney & DISH Sign Long-Term Pact, Streaming Rights Included

ENGLEWOOD/BURBANK: The Walt Disney Company and DISH Network have reached a distribution agreement, part of which includes the rights to stream linear and VOD content.

The pact sees the dismissal of all pending litigation between the two companies, including disputes over the PrimeTime Anytime and AutoHop features. DISH will be disabling the AutoHop functionality for ABC content.

The extensive and expanded deal grants DISH the rights to stream cleared linear and VOD content from the ABC-owned broadcast stations, ABC Family, Disney Channel, ESPN and ESPN 2. For the first time, DISH customers gain access to Disney's authenticated live and VOD products, including WATCH Disney, WATCH ABC Family and WATCH ABC using Internet devices at home and on the go.

“The creation of this agreement has really been about predicting the future of television with a visionary and forward-leaning partner,” said Joseph P. Clayton, DISH's CEO and president. “Not only will the exceptional Disney, ABC, ESPN entertainment portfolio continue to delight our customers today, but we have a model from which to deliver exciting new services tomorrow.”

Anne Sweeney, co-chairman of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney/ABC Television Group, said, “We knew early on we had a responsibility with this deal to not only do what was best for our business, but to also position our industry for future growth. After months of hard work and out-of-the box thinking on both sides, led by Bob Iger and Charlie Ergen, this agreement, one of the most complex and comprehensive we’ve ever undertaken, achieves just that. Not only were innovative business solutions reached on complicated current issues, we also planned for the evolution of our industry.”

John Skipper, the president of ESPN and co-chairman of Disney Media Networks, added: “We worked with DISH to smartly address the future of the multi-screen world on several levels. Together, we are adding value to the traditional video subscription by making great content accessible across platforms and delivering new products, including our WatchESPN authenticated networks, the highly anticipated launch of the SEC ESPN Network, expanded distribution for Longhorn Network, and a reimagined ESPN Classic video-on-demand channel. At the same time, we are creating opportunities to add new subscribers and introducing the value of a multichannel subscription to a small subset of broadband-only consumers.”

“This agreement allows us to bring more innovation to the customer experience, including new marketing, packaging and delivery options,” said Dave Shull, DISH's executive VP and chief commercial officer. “This paves the way for more customer choice and control over the viewing experience.”