ESPN, Disney channels go dark for Spectrum customers in Ohio, Kentucky
Spectrum #Spectrum
Disney-owned cable stations, including ESPN, went dark for Spectrum customers in Greater Cincinnati Thursday, coinciding with the kickoff of the 2023 college football season.
The Walt Disney Company removed its programming from Spectrum after the two companies failed to reach a deal over the price Spectrum pays for programming, the cable provider announced Thursday night.
While the the programming disruption shouldn’t impact University of Cincinnati Bearcats fans planning to watch the team’s first Big 12 matchup at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, which will be streamed on Big 12 Now on the ESPN+ streaming service, it will affect Spectrum customers’ ability to watch other college football games.
The Disney suite of channels includes the ESPN family of networks, ABC, FX, National Geographic, Disney Channel, Freeform and Baby TV, among others.
WCPO 9 (WCPO-TV), the local ABC affiliate, won’t be affected, according to Spectrum.
Spectrum customers trying to access any Disney-owned channels have been met with a message that reads, “We apologize for the inconvenience and are continuing to negotiate in good faith in order to reach a fair agreement.”
In a statement on its website, Spectrum contends it offered Disney a “fair deal,” but the media giant demanded an excessive increase.
“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,” the statement reads.
It is currently unclear if or when Disney cable programming will return to Spectrum. Disney is urging Spectrum customers to contact the cable provider.
“Disney Entertainment has a highly successful track record of negotiating with providers of all types and sizes across the country and is committed to reaching fair, market-based rates and terms,” the company said on its website.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why is ESPN not working? Disney pulls programming from Spectrum