General Hospital devotees who get their daily dose of prescription drama via DirecTV will be suffering from withdrawals beginning today (Tuesday, September 3, 2024) following the expiration of an agreement between the digital satellite service and Disney.

Drama Abounds For Fans Of General Hospital

As a result, DirecTV customers no longer have access to Disney-owned ABC affiliates (on which GH airs), ESPN, and a whole host of other channels including FX, National Geographic, and Freeform.

Rob Thun, chief content officer at DirecTV, said in a statement: “The Walt Disney Co. is once again refusing any accountability to consumers, distribution partners, and now the American judicial system. Disney is in the business of creating alternate realities, but this is the real world where we believe you earn your way and must answer for your own actions. They want to continue to chase maximum profits and dominant control at the expense of consumers – making it harder for them to select the shows and sports they want at a reasonable price.”

Disney Entertainment chiefs Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro issued the following rebuttal: “DirecTV chose to deny millions of subscribers access to our content just as we head into the final week of the US Open and gear up for college football and the opening of the NFL season. While we’re open to offering DirecTV flexibility and terms which we’ve extended to other distributors, we will not enter into an agreement that undervalues our portfolio of television channels and programs. We urge DirecTV to do what’s in the best interest of their customers and finalize a deal that would immediately restore our programming.”

Thun swiped back at the corporation with, “Disney’s only magic is forcing prices to go up while simultaneously making its content disappear.”

For GH fans seeking alternative avenues for viewing while a new deal is (hopefully) ironed out, there are a few available – and at a reasonable cost:

HULU, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, which provides same-day airings of GH episodes (usually uploaded to the streamer by 6PM), offers a 30-day FREE trial and several subscription tiers should you choose to remain a customer.

Meanwhile, FUBO, a live-TV streaming service, offers new users a seven-day free trial and plans ranging from $79.99/month to $109.99/month. A major selling point is the ability to cancel and change your plan at any time. No fuss, no muss.

Will you be making alternative arrangements to watch your favorite soap? Let us know in the comments section below.

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