Spectrum loses ESPN and more TV channels in contract dispute with Disney

The nation’s second-largest cable TV provider has lost multiple Disney-owned channels due to a contract dispute.

ESPN, FX, Freeform, the Disney Channel and a handful of ABC channels went off for Spectrum subscribers Thursday after Charter Communications and Disney Entertainment failed to reach a new carriage agreement. Some 14.7 million subscribers are affected, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The dispute meant some sports fans couldn’t watch the U.S. Open tennis tournament or a college football game between the University of Utah and the University of Florida on ESPN. More high-profile events could be affected as NCAA and NFL football begin their seasons.

Other channels blacked out include the ACC Network, ESPN 2, ESPNU, ESPN News, National Geographic, Disney Junior, Disney XD, and local ABC stations ABC7 Chicago, ABC7 Los Angeles, ABC7 New York, ABC7 San Francisco, ABC11 Raleigh-Durham, ABC13 Houston, ABC30 Fresno.

Syracuse’s ABC affiliate, NewsChannel 9 WSYR, is not affected, according to Spectrum. (WSYR-TV is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which is still in a dispute with DirecTV and not currently available on the satellite service.)

Syracuse football’s first game of the 2023 also should not be affected as it is not being broadcast on TV; the Orange will face Colgate on Saturday at 4 p.m. on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX) and the ESPN+ streaming service.

“The Walt Disney Company has removed their programming from Spectrum which creates hardship for our customers,” Spectrum said in a statement. “We offered Disney a fair deal, yet they are demanding an excessive increase... The rising cost of programming is the single greatest factor in higher cable TV prices, and we are fighting hard to hold the line on programming rates imposed on us by companies like Disney.”

Time Warner Cable, also accused Disney of limiting customer choices in television packages, forcing them to “pay for channels you may not want.”

“Disney Entertainment has successful deals in place with pay TV providers of all types and sizes across the country, and the rates and terms we are seeking in this renewal are driven by the marketplace,” Disney responded in a statement.

Both sides said they would continue negotiating about the issue.