miodrag ignjatovic/E+ via Getty Images
DirecTV on Sunday said it filed a complaint with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission that claims media company Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) failed to negotiate in good faith and engaged in anticompetitive behavior.
The satellite-television provider said Disney (DIS) imposed unreasonable terms on renewing the distribution agreement between the two companies. The demands include requirements on bundling and market penetration that were ruled as unlawful by a federal court, Reuters reported.
DirecTV also claimed Disney (DIS) pushed for a “fat bundle” of channels that would force the programming distributor to offer less popular programming as Disney (DIS) offered less expensive “skinnier” packages to viewers.
A Disney (DIS) spokesperson told Reuters that it continues to negotiate with DirecTV.
The ongoing carriage dispute already has led more than 11 million subscribers to DirecTV to lose access to Disney’s (DIS) network brands including ESPN. The conflict highlights the debate over programming bundles as DirectTV seeks to offer lower-cost skinny packages and Disney seeks to protect its popular networks.
