Disney and Spectrum Have Finally Reached a New Carriage Deal

Disney and Charter finally ended their dispute which led to a massive disruption for those who subscribe to Spectrum. Here are the details.

Disney Channels Vanish From Spectrum

It has been over a week since Spectrum subscribers had a shocking and unpleasant surprise when their cable service was disrupted in the middle of an evening full of sports and entertainment. Disney pulled its channels off Spectrum after failing to reach a carriage agreement with Charter.

Every Disney-owned channel unexpectedly went dark for Spectrum subscribers, and in most cases, it happened in the middle of a program such as an NCAA football game or the US Open. Consumers lost access to channels including ABC, ESPN, Disney Channel, Disney Jr., FX, Freeform, National Geographic, and many more. Needless to say, many of Spectrum’s customers were outraged and disappointed.

All of this happened because Disney and Charter Communications were in an ongoing carriage dispute, and they failed to reach a negotiation. In fact, it has been a carriage dispute unlike any other. As a result, consumers suffered. It quickly led to a class action lawsuit. You can read more details and thoughts from both companies HERE.

An Agreement Has Been Reached

Disney and Charter Communications have finally cut a deal. Part of the dispute is that Charter reportedly wanted to offer Disney’s streaming services in tandem with traditional cable in what Charter CEO Chris Winfrey describes as a “new collaborative video model.”

Disney CEO Bob Iger and Charter CEO Chris Winfrey made a joint statement regarding the deal. It says, “Our collective goal has always been to build an innovative model for the future. This deal recognizes both the continued value of linear television and the growing popularity of streaming services while addressing the evolving needs of our consumers.”

A deal has been reached between Disney and Charter, but things will change.

Offerings WILL Be Different

It is expected that Spectrum’s 14.7 million subscribers will have access to many Disney-owned channels restored. It should happen in time to enjoy Monday Night Football. In fact, some customers are already reporting that ESPN is back.

HOWEVER, things are changing. Some channels will NOT be returnning. Here is the update for what Disney-owned channels Spectrum will still offer:

“Effective immediately, Spectrum TV will provide its customers widespread access to a more curated lineup of 19 networks from The Walt Disney Company. Spectrum will continue to carry the ABC Owned Television Stations, Disney Channel, FX, and the Nat Geo Channel, in addition to the full suite of ESPN networks. Networks that will no longer be included in Spectrum TV video packages are Baby TV, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Freeform, FXM, FXX, Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo Mundo.”

So, there are some channels that customers will NOT get back. This is understandably disappointing for some customers.

Moreover, there are some additional changes to Spectrum’s offerings. Disney’s statement outlines them here:

• In the coming months, the Disney+ Basic ad-supported offering will be provided to customers who purchase the Spectrum TV Select package, as part of a wholesale arrangement.
• ESPN+ will be provided to Spectrum TV Select Plus subscribers.
• The ESPN flagship direct-to-consumer service will be made available to Spectrum TV Select subscribers when it launches.
• Charter will maintain flexibility to offer a range of video packages at varying price points based upon different customer viewing preferences.

Charter will also begin offering Disney’s direct-to-consumer services to all its customers. This includes services like Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, as well as The Disney Bundle.

Are you a Spectrum subscriber? How do you feel about the changes? Feel free to share this story with others who have been affected so they have the latest information.