- Disney CEO Robert Iger has stated that the company's traditional television business, including ABC and ESPN, may not be core to its future.
- This aligns with the vision of former Disney CEO Bob Chapek, who emphasized putting consumers at the center of every decision and integrating digital and in-person entertainment.
- In September, Disney announced perks for Disney+ subscribers related to theme parks, merchandise, cruise lines, and theatrical movies.
- Chapek was ousted in favor of Iger's return just two months after announcing this ambitious vision.
- Selling the linear networks would leave Disney's future primarily focused on its parks and direct-to-consumer businesses.
Amazon is reportedly in talks with Disney to work on the streaming version of ESPN and potentially acquire a minority stake in the sports network.
Disney's ESPN is in talks with Amazon about a potential partnership for a new streaming service, with ESPN considering charging between $20 and $35 per month for the service.
Disney's TV channels, including ABC, ESPN, FX, and Freeform, have been blacked out on Charter Spectrum, the US's second-largest cable TV provider, impacting millions of subscribers and creating a significant carriage dispute between the two companies.
Disney has urged Charter Communications customers to consider switching pay-TV services if they want access to ESPN and other networks, as the carriage dispute between the two companies continues. Disney also highlighted that customers have numerous options, including competing pay-TV providers and TV streaming services.
Charter Communications and Disney are engaged in a contract dispute over fees and streaming charges, leading Charter to temporarily stop offering Disney-owned channels to its customers.
Disney and ESPN are urging Spectrum cable customers to sign up for Hulu with live TV in order to regain access to ESPN and other Disney channels, following a dispute between Charter Communications and Disney Entertainment that has resulted in blackouts for Spectrum customers.
Disney's ongoing fight with Charter Communications over the placement of ESPN and other channels on Spectrum cable has escalated, with Stephen A. Smith publicly supporting Disney's position on social media.
Spectrum customers can no longer access ESPN due to a contract dispute, but they can still watch ESPN programming through live Internet TV streaming services such as fuboTV, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV, all of which offer free trials.
Disney's Linear Networks division, which includes ESPN and other channels, has been struggling with declining viewership and revenue, prompting management to explore strategic alternatives and potential partnerships to transition into a more streaming-oriented business.
Disney has experienced a 60% increase in Hulu + Live TV subscriptions since its carriage dispute with Charter began, offering a strategic option for Disney as it faces a threat to its annual affiliate fees from Charter.
Charter CEO Chris Winfrey stated that the ongoing carriage fight with Disney could result in a leaner, ESPN-free TV bundle for Spectrum customers, potentially leading to a smaller but more loyal customer base.
Viewers across the US are missing out on the US Open finals and NFL Monday Night Football due to a breakdown in negotiations between Charter Communications and Disney, resulting in a blackout of Disney-owned channels on Spectrum.
Walt Disney Co. and Charter Communications have reached an agreement that restores Disney channels to Charter's pay-TV service, with Charter gaining the ability to offer Disney's ad-supported streaming apps and Disney programming having access to Charter's television service, preserving the cable bundle for now.
The new carriage agreement between Disney and Charter Communications is seen as a win for both parties, with Disney gaining additional revenue through new distribution channels and Charter saving on unwanted linear networks. However, there are concerns about the impact on the broader entertainment industry and the future of linear TV.
Charter Spectrum cable is providing refunds to eligible customers affected by the blackout of Walt Disney Co. channels, following a dispute over the value and packaging of Disney's channels.
Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger is considering options for the company's traditional broadcast and cable businesses, including the potential sale of ABC, as streaming services and declining viewership threaten the future of linear TV.
Walt Disney Co is reportedly in talks with Nexstar Media Group Inc to sell its U.S. TV network ABC, as Disney looks to sell some of its traditional TV assets due to the rise of streaming services.
Byron Allen has submitted a $10 billion offer to Walt Disney Co. to acquire its ABC TV network, local stations, as well as the FX and National Geographic cable channels.
Disney's potential sale of ABC and its affiliated networks is not primarily motivated by financial gains, but rather serves as a signal to investors that Disney is ready to move away from traditional television and focus on its streaming businesses.
