What Happened to ESPN on Spectrum? How to Stream ESPN?
Updated Sep 01, 2023
What Happened to ESPN on Spectrum?
A disagreement between Charter Communications and Disney resulted in the blackout of ESPN channels for Spectrum cable subscribers. The incident unfolded on the evening of a highly anticipated college football game between Florida and No. 14 Utah, which was scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN. Charter Communications, which serves around 14.7 million video subscribers through its Spectrum service, found itself in a standoff with Disney over contractual terms.
This dispute extended beyond ESPN to impact a total of 19 cable channels owned by Disney. The blackout came into effect just as the Thursday night football game kicked off at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, leaving college football enthusiasts frustrated and disappointed due to their inability to access the broadcast.
Disney-Charter Communications Dispute
A dispute between Disney and Charter Communications, the operator of Spectrum, led to Disney's decision to pull approximately 27 channels at 5 p.m. PT. This move was a result of ongoing disagreements between the two companies over carrier terms and rates.
The blackout affected a range of programming, including ABC-owned TV stations, Disney-branded channels like Freeform and FX, National Geographic channels, ESPN, and ABC. Disney stated that the rates and terms they were seeking were market-driven and aimed at securing a mutually agreed-upon resolution.
Spectrum, on the other hand, accused Disney of attempting to impose higher costs on customers for their expensive programming, even for those who may not want or afford it. Charter expressed its willingness to accept rate increases but argued that Disney's approach highlighted the broken nature of the current video ecosystem and proposed an alternative model for better industry alignment and customer choices.
Spectrum Communications Statement
"The Walt Disney Company has removed their programming from Spectrum which creates hardship for our customers.
"We offered Disney a fair deal, yet they are demanding an excessive increase.
"They also want to limit our ability to provide greater customer choice in programming packages forcing you to take and pay for channels you may not want.
"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.
"We apologize for the inconvenience."
Disney Statement
“We’ve been in ongoing negotiations with Charter Communications for some time and have not yet agreed to a new market-based agreement. As a result, their Spectrum TV subscribers no longer have access to our unrivaled portfolio of live sporting events and news coverage plus kids, family, and general entertainment programming from the ABC Owned Television Stations, the ESPN networks, the Disney-branded channels, Freeform, the FX networks, and the National Geographic channels.
"Disney Entertainment has successful deals in place with pay-TV providers of all types and sizes across the country, and the rates and terms we are seeking in this renewal are driven by the marketplace. We’re committed to reaching a mutually agreed upon resolution with Charter and we urge them to work with us to minimize the disruption to their customers.”
ESPN Networks
ESPN, short for the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by The Walt Disney Company (80% ownership and operational control) and Hearst Communications (20% ownership) through their joint venture ESPN Inc. Established in 1979 by Bill Rasmussen and Ed Eagan along with Scott Rasmussen, ESPN is a prominent sports broadcasting network.
Headquartered in Bristol, Connecticut, the network's main studio facilities are located there, and it also maintains offices and auxiliary studios in cities such as Miami, New York City, Las Vegas, Seattle, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. The role of chairman of ESPN is currently held by James Pitaro, who assumed the position on March 5, 2018, succeeding John Skipper, who resigned on December 18, 2017.
Charter Spectrum Communications
Charter Communications, Inc., is an American telecommunications and mass media company recognized under the Spectrum brand. Operating with services spanning 41 states and serving over 32 million customers, Charter stands as the second-largest cable operator in the United States in terms of subscribers, trailing only Comcast, and holds the position of the third-largest pay-TV operator after Comcast and AT&T.
The company also ranks fifth among telephone providers based on the number of residential lines. Under the leadership of CEO Thomas Rutledge, who joined in late 2012, Charter moved its corporate headquarters from St. Louis, Missouri, to Stamford, Connecticut, while retaining significant operations in St. Louis.
In May 2016, Charter solidified its status as a major player in the industry by completing the acquisition of Time Warner Cable and its counterpart Bright House Networks, elevating it to become the third-largest pay television service provider in the United States. Charter's significance in the business landscape is further highlighted by its placement at No. 70 on the 2019 Fortune 500 list of the largest corporations in the United States based on total revenue.
How to Stream ESPN?
To stream ESPN without a cable subscription, you have several live TV streaming options available. Services like Sling TV Orange, Fubo, and DirecTV Stream offer access to ESPN and The Tennis Channel. Additionally, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV include ESPN in their channel lineups. While ESPN's channels and apps are popular choices for watching sports content, they are not the only options for catching US Open matches.
ESPN Plus, a subscription service priced at $9.99 per month, provides extensive coverage of the tournament, especially during the early rounds where it offers live coverage from all 16 courts. For a comprehensive streaming solution, you can also consider the Disney Bundle, which offers a discount when subscribing to ESPN Plus along with Disney Plus and Hulu.
What Happened to ESPN on Spectrum - FAQs
A dispute between Charter Communications and Disney led to ESPN channels being blacked out for Spectrum cable subscribers.
Charter Communications and Disney were in a disagreement over contractual terms and rates, resulting in the blackout of ESPN channels on Spectrum.
The blackout impacted a total of 19 Disney-owned cable channels for Spectrum subscribers.
The blackout coincided with the kickoff of a college football game between Florida and Utah on ESPN, causing frustration among viewers.
Spectrum expressed that Disney was demanding an excessive increase in rates and attempting to limit customer choice, while Spectrum aimed to keep costs down and maximize customer options.