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DISH drops ESPN, SEC Network: College football fans furious on social media
By Andrew Olson
Published:
DISH subscribers woke up for a college football Saturday only to find out that they cannot watch “College GameDay” or many of the day’s games.
DISH is in a dispute with Disney and has dropped the Mouse’s channels, including ESPN and the SEC Network. Four of the five SEC games Saturday are airing on ESPN or the SEC Network (No. 2 Alabama at No. 20 Arkansas is on CBS). Florida’s rescheduled game against Eastern Washington (Sunday, noon ET) will stream via SEC Network+ (complimentary for SEC Network subscribers) and ESPN+ (standalone streaming subscription).
DISH tweeted the news at 2:52 a.m. ET Saturday.
Our contract has expired with The Walt Disney Company. Our goal and priority is to reach a fair agreement to bring their channels back as quickly as possible. Visit https://t.co/TH9bxCgYKp for more information and to make your voice heard, call Disney at 818-560-1000. pic.twitter.com/XD7YIOQRsK
— DISH (@dish) October 1, 2022
Here’s a sample of the reaction from angry football fans on social media:
Dish Network get my ABC and ESPN back on by noon don’t be cheap. @dish @dish
— Boc (@bocs_army) October 1, 2022
So everybody that has Dish network woke on a college football Saturday without any ESPN’s or Disney owned channels ? Wow way to go @Disney @espn @dish
— ?? (@TheReturnOfTheU) October 1, 2022
@dish give me ESPN and the SEC channel now. We pay a lot of money to watch college football. Don’t mess with my Saturdays.
— tbarnes (@allthingsBama) October 1, 2022
I just love how these multi billion dollar biz fight and we the consumer get screwed!
Thanks for doing this on CFB Saturday
Of course it's on purpose and it worked.
Im pissed at all of you!@Disney we have Disney+.Seems like we should have access still
— Michael Jackson☮️ #Fight4US #GoodTrouble (@Mjcrjdrvrsoonrf) October 1, 2022
A Saturday in October ripe with football games and Dish and Disney/SEC Network/ESPN decide to have a pissing contest. I'd personally like to thank everyone involved.
— John R. McKinney (@jrmckin3) October 1, 2022
Brian Neylon making himself the face of Dish dropping Disney/ESPN at 2am on a college football Saturday is insane. Dude's career is over lmao. https://t.co/7zWpq4U6RH pic.twitter.com/ZcqXwFF1sz
— Max Ujdak (@Moodak) October 1, 2022
#DishNetwork has taken off #ESPN #SEC, all #Disney channels. Great Saturday for #football fans? I will not pay for other #streaming services. Stop trying to force everyone to buy it. Stop being #MoneyHungry @Disney @dish
— Sssamantha (@MsSamanthaB) October 1, 2022
You dropped ESPN in the middle of the night without warning. I’m gonna drop Dish and see how you like it
— Scott Smith (@kenssmith) October 1, 2022
https://twitter.com/tweetsbyLA/status/1576195992533147648
Dish drops all ESPN affiliates in the middle of the night with no warning during College Football Season pic.twitter.com/T3lAZtqkzL
— Trevor McAnally (@wtmcanally1) October 1, 2022
@dish we have been customers for over 20 years. We are officially DONE ☑️ WE ARE CUTTING THE CORD. No notice losing @espn and @SECNetwork was the last straw. Counting down minutes to call you and Cancel!! ?
— Paige Parker (@pparker8589) October 1, 2022
I wonder how many others are like us
– 25+ yr DISH cust
– Had prices increased by >70%
– Actively looking for alternatives
– Now recommend to friends to look elsewhere
– Just lost the only CHs keeping them … like ACC network through ESPNThe clock is ticking
— John S (@JTSJax) October 1, 2022
https://twitter.com/The_Texan1/status/1576193143569272833
I only watch @espn for 2 shows. @CollegeGameDay and Monday Night Football. Now I can't watch either because @Disney & Dish Network couldn't reach a new agreement because ESPN wanted a BILLION dollars more in their new deal because they know ESPN+/Disney+ doesn't generate any cash
— Nick Kayal (@NickKayal) October 1, 2022
Media folks also worked in a couple Aaron Judge jokes:
Now this is an unwanted cut-in. https://t.co/ZEcNeHw54d
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) October 1, 2022
Glass half full perspective: DISH users won’t be dealing with Aaron Judge live look-ins today. https://t.co/5X8NgBS4id
— Michael Katz (@MichaelLKatz) October 1, 2022
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
