Walt Disney has pulled its channels, including ABC stations and ESPN, from Charter Spectrum due to a distribution fee dispute, leaving nearly 15 million subscribers without access to popular programming such as "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune."
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.
Charter Communications and Disney are engaging in a dispute over programming costs and streaming services, with the outcome likely to have significant implications for the media industry as a whole.
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.
Disney expresses interest in potentially doing a deal with Charter Communications, but Charter plans to leave the video business and focus on wireless and broadband services, as negotiations with Disney become more contentious and Spectrum customers are referred to FuboTV.
The Walt Disney Company is recommending Spectrum customers to switch to Hulu + Live TV or other streaming alternatives as they work on a new distribution deal with Charter Communications to restore access to Disney-owned channels that have been blacked out since Thursday.
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.
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.
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.
Disney stock is experiencing a decline, but it is still considered a good investment despite Charter Communications' request for Disney to reconsider its cable bundle.
Charter Communications, the second-largest cable distributor in America, acknowledges that cable television is too expensive and packages don't meet customer needs.
Charter Communications' stock has fallen during the dispute with Walt Disney, but one analyst believes it is a buy.
New York and North Carolina governors are urging Charter Spectrum and Disney to resolve their ongoing dispute and provide refunds to the impacted TV customers while negotiations continue.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has directed the Department of Public Service to obtain refunds for consumers who have lost access to Walt Disney Co. channels on Charter Spectrum cable due to a carriage dispute between the two companies.
Charter Communications and Disney are expected to reach a deal ahead of "Monday Night Football" that would end the blackout dispute, allowing Charter cable customers to watch the game.
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.
Disney and Charter have reached a deal that allows Charter to offer select Disney streaming services as part of its cable packages, benefitting both companies and signaling a step towards a fully streaming future.
Charter's CFO, Jessica Fischer, stated that the carriage renewal deal with Disney "met all of our objectives" and resulted in only moderate TV subscriber losses, with Charter securing the ability to integrate Disney streaming services.
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.
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.
