Asia Tech Wire (Sep 2) -- Walt Disney and U.S. satellite TV operator DirecTV said Sunday that they failed to reach a new distribution agreement for ESPN, ABC and other Disney-owned networks.

That would have left more than 11 million DirecTV subscribers without access to those networks.

The program blackout, which follows the expiration of a previous agreement on Sunday, will take effect a few days before the new National Football League season kicks off this Thursday and ahead of the presidential debate scheduled for Sept. 10 on ABC News.