In a sudden twist of events, a blackout shrouded the screens of Spectrum cable TV subscribers.
ESPN and 18 other Disney networks and ABC stations vanished without a trace, leaving millions of viewers in the dark.
But what led to this dramatic disappearance, and what’s at stake as the battle between Charter Communications, the operator of Spectrum, and Disney unfolds?
What Happened to Channel 7 on Spectrum?
Channel 7, along with ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel, and other channels owned by the Walt Disney Company, have turned dark on Charter Spectrum cable systems because of an ongoing dispute between Charter Communications and Disney Entertainment.
Disney Vs. Charter Communications
In the days leading up to this blackout, Charter Communications, the company behind Spectrum, and Disney had been locked in a distribution dispute.
This clash of media titans started long before the U.S. Open tennis tournament, casting uncertainty over the impending college football and NFL seasons. Beyond ESPN, this dispute also involves FX, several non-sports networks, and ABC stations.
Spectrum’s Ominous Warnings
As the clock ticked towards the blackout, Spectrum took to the airwaves, running spots during ESPN’s U.S. Open coverage.
They warned their customers about the impending blackout, urging them to call a toll-free number to express their concerns about losing access to ABC and Disney cable networks.
The Moment of Darkness
The dreaded moment arrived at 5 PM PT when Disney-owned cable networks went dark. It happened in the middle of a live U.S. Open match on ESPN, leaving viewers staring at nothing but a black screen.
Minutes later, a message appeared, revealing that The Walt Disney Co. had “removed” its programming. The message claimed that Spectrum had offered Disney a fair deal, but Disney had demanded an excessive increase.
The ABC Connection
The local ABC station in Los Angeles, KABC-TV, didn’t escape the blackout. It remained on for about 10-15 minutes past 5 PM before also going dark, displaying the same message from Spectrum.
Disney’s Response
Disney Entertainment fired back with a statement, saying, “We’ve been in ongoing negotiations with Charter Communications for some time and have not yet agreed to a new market-based agreement.”
They insisted that they were committed to finding a resolution with Charter and urged them to minimize the disruption to their customers.
The Bigger Picture
This blackout is part of a broader trend in the entertainment industry. With the pay-TV bundle shrinking, both operators and programmers are under increasing economic pressure to find acceptable financial terms.
The battle between Disney and Charter is just one of several ongoing disputes, with CW parent Nexstar Media Group locked in a three-month-long battle with DirecTV.
These disputes are becoming more intense as they play out in the shadow of Big Tech.
Charter’s Stand
Charter Communications expressed disappointment with Disney’s decision, stating, “We would agree to The Walt Disney Company’s significant rate increase despite their declining ratings.
But they are trying to force our customers to pay for their very expensive programming, even those who don’t want it or can’t afford it.” They suggested that the current video ecosystem is broken and proposed a model for better industry alignment.
The Impact on Spectrum Customers
Due to this contract disagreement, spectrum cable customers have been left without access to Disney-owned channels.
Charter executives outlined their efforts to propose a more collaborative model with Disney that would prevent customers who don’t watch Disney channels from paying higher fees. Disney rejected this proposal and opted for a different approach.
What Disney Says
Disney’s perspective is that they are seeking a “market-based agreement” and that the marketplace drives the rates and terms they are requesting. They remain committed to reaching a mutually agreed-upon resolution with the Charter.
What Charter Spectrum Customers Miss Out On
The blackout means the loss of popular networks like ESPN, ABC, FX, National Geographic, and more. College football fans, in particular, feel the pinch as they miss out on this season’s opening games.
The outage impacts a substantial portion of Charter Spectrum customers who engage with Disney content regularly.
A Wider Landscape of Blackouts
The Spectrum blackout isn’t an isolated incident. Raleigh’s CBS affiliate, CBS 17 has been dark for AT&T/DirecTV customers since July due to a contract dispute.
This dispute has impacted over 10 million customers and over 150 local TV stations, affecting major networks like ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and CW affiliates.
As the battle rages on, the fate of Disney’s networks on Spectrum remains uncertain. Will they reappear on screens, or is this blackout just the tip of the iceberg in the evolving media landscape?
