Due to TV dispute, Texas fans could be left in the dark for the Alabama, Wyoming games

Barring the completion of a Hail Mary, some Texas fans may be left scrambling to watch the Longhorns play Alabama on Saturday.

Due to a contract dispute, Spectrum TV customers have been left in the dark. The Walt Disney Company pulled its stations from Spectrum's cable menu on Aug. 31. For UT fans, that means no ESPN and no Longhorn Network.

No. 11 Texas plays at No. 3 Alabama in a game that will be broadcast on ESPN. On Saturday morning, ESPN's College GameDay also will be set up in Tuscaloosa for its show.

This blackout also could impact viewers' abilities to see the Longhorns play Wyoming on Sept. 16 since that's a LHN broadcast. Texas opened its season with a game that was aired on Fox, so Spectrum customers were able to watch that one, and ABC affiliate KVUE has not been blacked out, so the Texas-Oklahoma and Texas-Texas Tech games this season shouldn't be impacted in the Austin area. The Big 12 has not yet released the television designations for UT's seven remaining games.

And this isn't just a football story. Starting with last Sunday's home match against No. 2 Stanford, Texas volleyball team is set to appear 14 times on either LHN, ESPN2 or ESPNU this season. Texas' soccer team has seven LHN matches and one ESPNU contest left on its schedule.

How to watch Texas-Alabama: Start time, TV broadcast and more stories to know

So what's the problem, anyway?

Why is this happening? In short, Charter Communications — Spectrum's parent company — and the Walt Disney Company have been unable to reach an agreement on how much Charter will pay to have Disney programming on its platform.

"We offered Disney a fair deal, and yet they continue to demand an excessive increase," Charter claimed on its website after the blackout. Charter also claimed that Disney has balked at the idea of letting customers choose packages that may not include the entertainment company's offerings.

"We respect the quality video products that The Walt Disney Company produces as well as the experience of its management team," a Charter press release read. "But the current video ecosystem is broken, and we know there is a better path that will deliver video products with the choice consumers want."

Disney has stated that Charter Communications declined an invitation to extend negotiations ahead of the blackout. Disney also argued that Charter's insistence that Disney include its streaming services as part of a deal "does not make economic sense. Moreover, it does not make sense for consumers who desire the flexibility to have our streaming platforms as standalone services."

More: On Second Thought: ESPN's Paul Finebaum previews Texas-Alabama

What can Texas fans do during the blackout?

According to a Charter Communications spokesperson, the company serves 3.5 million customers across the state of Texas with all of its products (Charter also offers internet, home phone and mobile services). But for the cable customers who want to watch the Longhorns, what are the alternatives during this blackout?

Spectrum customers certainly can switch cable companies. That option, however, may not be financially effective or even feasible because of availability in certain areas or an already-established bundle that includes Spectrum's other products.

The American-Statesman surveyed UT fans online about their plans. A few were willing to wait for a resolution between Charter and Disney, but others responded that they'd give streaming services like YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo a shot in the interim. On Thursday, the Southeastern Conference released a list of streaming services for Spectrum customers who are missing out on the Disney-owned SEC Network to consider.

Many of these streaming services offer either a free trial or an initial discount, but then charge a monthly fee that hovers around $70. Of those options, only Sling streams LHN.

What we know: Disney, Spectrum dispute blacks out more than a dozen channels

"I see both sides but this isn't what companies led by quality leadership do," David Gemuenden of The Hills wrote in an email. "I'm going to get YouTube TV for the 21-day trial and hope they get it resolved by then. If not, I'm cutting the cord."

Austin resident Jared VosWinkel said he was pulling for Charter in this dispute because "if they give in to Disney, we the audience will pay more, right alongside Spectrum." The recent UT graduate still wants to watch the Longhorns, though.

"I may or may not possibly do what any reasonable fan would do and scour the internet (Reddit and Twitter) looking for a 'friend' who happens to also be watching the game, but sharing it with thousands of people," VosWinkel wrote in an email.

Heading out to a bar or restaurant that's showing games may be an option. The Texas Exes in Austin will hold their watch party at the Little Woodrow's in Southpark Meadows on Saturday while Alabama's Austin alumni are planning to gather at Buford's Backyard Beer Garden.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Spectrum, Disney dispute could disrupt TV plans for Texas sports fans