In a surprising turn of events, DirecTV customers may have access to the highly anticipated presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump tonight, thanks to an offer from Disney. Despite the ongoing carriage battle between the two companies, Disney has extended a temporary no blackout proposal to DirecTV, allowing its subscribers to witness this important moment in history.

As the candidates prepare to face off in Philadelphia, a Disney spokesperson informed Deadline that the ABC News presidential debate will be widely available across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. While negotiations between Disney and DirecTV are still ongoing, the media giant has taken the initiative to provide a three-hour feed of ABC News coverage to all impacted DirecTV customers at no cost.

The broadcast is set to begin at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT, featuring pre-debate coverage followed by the debate itself, moderated by Linsey Davis and David Muir. Additionally, a post-debate segment is expected to air for DirecTV customers and viewers across the nation. However, the availability of this coverage is contingent upon DirecTV accepting Disney's proposal to temporarily lift the blackout.

This recent development comes in the wake of DirecTV subscribers missing out on the season debut of NFL's Monday Night Football due to the ongoing dispute. In response, DirecTV accused Disney of "blocking the Presidential debate" and urged viewers to tune in to alternative channels such as CBS, FOX, NBC, C-SPAN, or various news networks to watch the debate.

Despite DirecTV's defiant stance, Disney's move highlights its commitment to ensuring that all Americans have access to tonight's pivotal debate. The company remains at the negotiating table, emphasizing that the restoration of programming to DirecTV subscribers is entirely within the satellite cable company's control.

While a resolution to the carriage battle remains uncertain, attention now turns to the ABC-hosted Emmys, scheduled for September 15. Currently, there is no backup streaming plan for DirecTV customers to watch the highly anticipated ceremony, despite Disney garnering the highest number of nominations this year.

As the debate draws near, preparations are underway at the Philadelphia Convention Center's media filing center and spin room. The ABC News logo is prominently displayed throughout the venue, from walls to circular banners and backdrops, clearly indicating the network's sponsorship of the event. Meanwhile, the debate will be held at the National Constitution Center, where a security perimeter occupies a significant portion of Independence Mall.

Despite the absence of visible debate signage outside the fencing, a small gathering of campaign supporters has already congregated in an open area of the mall. Signage expressing contrasting viewpoints can be seen, with one man holding a sign that reads "Kamala Loves Hamas," while a woman's banner features the word "Loser" in the font reminiscent of the Trump campaign. Notably, there is also a vendor selling Harris merchandise, including a T-shirt labeled "The Prosecutor vs. The Felon."

As of now, no further debates have been officially scheduled between Vice President Harris and former President Trump. However, their respective running mates, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota and Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), are set to engage in a head-to-head debate on October 1, to be broadcasted by CBS.