ESPN blacked out for millions on huge sports day due to Disney dispute
Spectrum cable and Disney have yet to agree to a deal.
Millions of Americans were unable to watch some major sports action on a big sports day, and it could continue as we enter the peak months for sports.
A dispute between The Walt Disney Co. (DIS) - Get Free Report and Charter Communications (CHTR) - Get Free Report, which runs Spectrum cable, led to a blackout of 19 different Disney cable channels starting the night of Aug. 31.
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These channels include sports networks like ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, and the ACC Network. The blackout also happened to occur right before the kickoff for college football between Utah and Florida on ESPN, as well as during the primetime matches of the US Open which were on ESPN2.
Spectrum also happens to have the country’s second-most cable subscribers at 14.7 million.
The two sides have released statements, with Spectrum saying that they “offered Disney a fair deal” but feel Disney is “demanding an excessive increase.”
Disney told the Hollywood Reporter in a statement that the two sides have not agreed on what Disney deems as a “market-based agreement.”
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It’s no secret that the world of media is in a whirlwind as cord cutting has affected cable providers and media companies alike. Disney, and in particular ESPN, have been at the forefront as the company has publicly announced that it is looking for a strategic partner for the network.
There’s no sign as to when Disney and Charter will come to an agreement, but it could be risky for all parties if no deal happens soon. The coming weeks and months are the peak of sports with the return of college football and the NFL, the MLB Playoffs, and the start of the NBA and NHL seasons on the horizon.
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