Part 7/9:
Time is a critical factor in this negotiation. With high-profile events like Alabama vs. LSU college football game on ABC tonight, the pressure to resolve this issue quickly is intense. The deadline to strike a deal might be as soon as tonight, given the significant ratings and revenue involved. If an agreement isn’t reached swiftly, customers may face several more days of channel blackouts, potentially extending until Monday afternoon.
Both sides clearly want to avoid the backlash of not broadcasting major sporting events. The feeling is that they are trying to finalize a deal before the NFL Monday night game, which could have enough viewership impact to sway public opinion further against the companies involved.