As part of a major contract dispute, Disney has decided to pull the plug and block access to its 25 channels for Charter Spectrum cable users. This abrupt blackout, which unfolded on Thursday evening without any prior notice, left many users frustrated, as it disrupted not only the U.S. Open but also the opening weekend of college football broadcasts.
The crux of the matter
According to Charter’s CEO, Chris Winfrey, the company, aiming to keep costs low for its 14 million consumers, pushed for a revamped deal with Disney, which would grant access to Disney’s ad-supported streaming services, like Disney+ and ESPN+, without extra charges. And although Charter eventually agreed to Disney’s request for increased fees, both companies weren’t able to reach a deal on the streaming access terms.
As a result, Charter Spectrum expressed their disappointment with Disney’s decision, accusing them of trying to compel their customers to pay for expensive programming, even if they have no interest in it. Moreover, the company believes that its proposed model would offer a better choice to customers.
“We offered Disney a fair deal, yet they are demanding an excessive increase. Spectrum is on your side and fighting to keep costs down while protecting and maximizing customer choice. 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,” said Spectrum.
Disney’s say
In response, Disney asserted that Charter declined their offer despite favourable conditions and creative proposals to make Disney’s streaming services accessible to Spectrum customers. Additionally, the company also emphasized its successful partnerships with various pay-TV providers across the country and clarified that ongoing negotiations had been in progress with Charter Communications.
Despite the issue, Disney stated in a press release that they are “ready to return to the negotiation table to restore access to our unrivalled content for their customers as quickly as possible.”