In a bid to ease the frustration of North Carolinians who are unable to access certain channels due to the ongoing dispute between the Walt Disney Company and DirecTV, Governor Roy Cooper has sent letters to both companies urging them to reach an agreement. The dispute, which Cooper referred to as an "unacceptable practice," has left current DirecTV streaming service subscribers without access to ABC News 13 and other popular Disney-owned channels.

The disagreement stems from the expiration of DirecTV's five-year contract with Disney on September 1, resulting in channels such as ESPN, the Disney Channel, and FX going dark. Numerous frustrated viewers have reached out to ABC News 13 to voice their complaints about not being able to watch their favorite shows and sporting events.

Governor Cooper emphasized the importance of reaching a resolution promptly, particularly with the start of the Atlantic Coastal Conference (ACC) football season. He stressed that it was unfair for North Carolinians to be paying for streaming services without receiving all the channels they had subscribed to.

In his letter to both companies, Governor Cooper expressed his concerns about the recurring pattern of media companies dragging contract negotiations for as long as possible, causing inconvenience to customers. Highlighting the significance of popular sporting events, especially college football season, he urged Disney and DirecTV to swiftly resolve the dispute.

Cooper's letter also touched on the financial impact on families in North Carolina, who are already burdened by the rising costs of everyday expenses. Many North Carolinians choose to allocate their hard-earned money to these companies, expecting quality service in return. However, with the ongoing channel dispute, these expectations are not being met.

Acknowledging the passion for sports in North Carolina, Governor Cooper highlighted the frustration felt by viewers who were unable to watch the nationally televised college football matchup between LSU and the University of Southern California due to the blackout of Disney programming. He emphasized that events such as the US Open Tennis Championships were also affected by the dispute.

In conclusion, Governor Cooper urged Disney and DirecTV to work diligently and around the clock to reach an agreement as soon as possible. The resolution of this dispute is crucial to ensure that North Carolinians can enjoy their favorite sports and other programs without any further interruptions.