Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Monday night's NFL prime-time showdown between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets will be available on ESPN to Spectrum subscribers after both parent companies - Disney and Charter - reached a deal Monday, ending a blackout on the cable system.
In a joint statement, Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company, and Chris Winfrey, President and Chief Executive Officer, Charter Communications said:
"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. We also want to thank our mutual customers for their patience this past week, and are pleased that Spectrum viewers once again have access to Disney's high-quality sports, news and entertainment programming, in time for Monday Night Football."
Among the key deal points:
- The new deal calls for the Disney+ Basic ad-supported offering to 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 upon launch.
- Charter to maintain flexibility in offering video packages at varying price points based upon different customer's viewing preferences.
Under the deal, Charter also will use its significant distribution capabilities to offer Disney's direct-to-consumer services to all of its customers – in particular its large broadband-only customer base – for purchase at retail rates. These include Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, as well as The Disney Bundle.
However, not all the channels affected are coming back. While Spectrum will continue to carry the ABC-Owned Television Stations, Disney Channel, FX and the Nat Geo Channel, in addition to the full ESPN network suite, Baby TV, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Freeform, FXM, FXX, Nat Geo Wild, and Nat Geo Mundo will no longer be carried.
"Last week, I made it clear that if you pay for your cable bill, you deserve to get the services you pay for. Just in time for Monday night football and the Bills and Jets starting their seasons tonight, I'm pleased that Disney and Charter have resolved their corporate dispute and resumed service for more than 1.5 million New York customers that lost access to ESPN and Disney-owned channels," said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in a statement. "My Administration will ensure that New Yorkers receive a refund for the days they were without service, holding true to our commitment that we will always prioritize consumer protection."
Related
