Charter Spectrum Customers Lose ESPN and Disney Channels in Carriage Dispute

ESPN and other Disney Entertainment channels have gone dark on Charter Spectrum cable systems due to a carriage dispute. The blackout occurred during a college football game and the U.S. Open tennis tournament, angering sports fans. The U.S. Tennis Association expressed disappointment and urged a quick resolution. Both Charter Spectrum and Disney stated that negotiations have been ongoing, with Charter Spectrum claiming that Disney is demanding excessive increases and limiting customer choice. ESPN has traditionally had the highest carriage fees for cable companies, with Disney receiving an average of $2.20 billion per year from Charter Spectrum.