Arabic version: ديزني+ تقول إن الفاصل الإعلاني خلال مباراة أرسنال لم يكن مجدولاً

According to BBC News, Disney+ said a three-minute advertising interruption during Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League match against HB Koge was an unintended technical issue rather than a scheduled break. The disruption came in the second half on Tuesday while the score was 0-0.

Disney said it was aware customers had experienced an interruption and that its team was taking steps to prevent a repeat. “This was not an intended ad break and we understand the frustration this disruption caused to our customers watching the game,” the broadcaster said.

Arsenal won 1-0 in their opening game of the competition, with Mariona Caldentey scoring a stoppage-time penalty. The broadcast, produced by ESPN, also encountered other problems, including audio synchronisation issues, players unable to hear studio questions during interviews and camera shots in which cushions blocked the view of host Alex Scott.

Disney’s new live studio programme, The Hangout, featured Scott alongside former England forward Lianne Sanderson, content creators Alex Bailess and Tyra Mills, and a dog called Barley Boy. The programme also included a vegetable platter and a rotating floor. Disney describes The Hangout as a match-day experience with pre-match build-up, half-time analysis and post-match reaction.

Viewers criticised aspects of the coverage on X, with some saying the format was “gimmicky” and risked undermining women’s football. Disney+ coverage continues on Wednesday, when Chelsea host Austria Wien at 20:00 BST.