Freeform, Disney Junior Among Channels Dropped From Spectrum in New Charter/Disney Deal
Spectrum cable subscribers might notice a few things missing, even as ESPN and other channels are restored per the new Charter Communications/Walt Disney Company deal announced on Monday morning.
As part of the multi-year agreement, a “more curated” package of Disney networks and stations was restored for Spectrum customers — including the full ESPN network suite, Disney Channel, FX and the Nat Geo Channel.
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Networks that will no longer be included in Spectrum TV video packages, however, are Freeform, FXX, Disney Junior, Disney XD, FXM, Baby TV, Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo Mundo.
Among the ramifications of this culling: Since Freeform and FXX have the cable rights to reruns of The Simpsons and Family Guy, Spectrum subscribers who don’t subscribe to Hulu or Disney+ will need to rely on local syndication to see them.
All told, 18 Disney-owned networks, plus local ABC stations in several major markets, went black for Spectrum customers on Sept. 1. Charter, the second-largest cable operator in the U.S., had contended that as more and more TV consumers “cut the cord” and defect to streaming, that leaves those who don’t to foot higher bills for packages that are stuffed with channels they don’t necessarily want.
So, consider said package of Disney-owned channels officially less stuffed!
Charter also argued that ever-increasing carriage rates are helping companies like Disney develop and beef up their streaming product. As such, Charter had offered to accept The Walt Disney Company’s “market” carriage rates provided that it gave Spectrum cable subscribers, for free, access to ad-supported Disney+ and other Disney-owned streaming products.
Disney wound up agreeing to provide the ad-supported Disney+ Basic tier to Spectrum customers who purchase the Spectrum TV Select package, while ESPN+ will be provided to Spectrum TV Select Plus subscribers.
Charter will be providing a prorated credit for Disney content that was unavailable during the carriage dispute to eligible Spectrum TV customers who had not received a credit already.
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