Why is ESPN not working on Spectrum? Cable provider drops channels amid dispute with Disney
Spectrum customers hoping to watch the ESPN game between Florida and No. 14 Utah on Thursday were greeted with a black screen on their various TVs and devices.
The game was dropped just moments before the season-opening game due to a dispute between Spectrum and Disney over access fees for the former to carry its Disney-owned channels, including ESPN, ESPN2 and conference-specific sites such as the SEC Network.
As such, Spectrum fans hoping to watch the game will be unable to via their normal service.
Why is ESPN not working on Spectrum?
Spectrum dropped ESPN from its cable service Thursday evening, just minutes before the 8 p.m. ET kickoff between Florida and Utah. The issue, as with all things, relates to money. As reported by George Thomas of the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal, Spectrum and Disney are in an ongoing disputes over access fees, which were expected to extend into the 2023 college football season. That has resulted in ESPN's absence from Spectrum cable subscriptions.
Disney and Charter-owned Spectrum previously reached a deal in 2019 on a "multi-year deal" for a "comprehensive distribution agreement." It seems to have run its course.
MORE: Florida vs. Utah live score, updates, highlights from Week 1 college football game
What channel is Florida-Utah?
Florida's game vs. Utah is on ESPN — one of the channels that was dropped from Spectrum amid its dispute with Disney. Spectrum customers will not be able to watch the game.
Disney statement on ESPN outage
Both Spectrum and Disney claim to be on the right side of the argument. The latter has issued the following statement on keepmynetworks.com to Spectrum customers
"We have been unable to reach a market-based agreement with Charter Communications (Spectrum) to continue carrying our networks. This means that you have lost access to our unrivaled portfolio of live sports, kids, family and general entertainment programming from the ESPN networks, the Disney-branded channels, Freeform, the FX networks, and the National Geographic channels," the statement reads. "As a result, 'SportsCenter' and exclusive live sports such as 'Monday Night Football' and college football ... and much more are no longer available with your Spectrum TV subscription.
"Contact Spectrum and let them know you want to keep these networks."
Spectrum statement on ESPN blackout
Spectrum also issued a lengthy statement to various customers' previously blank screens:
"We offered Disney a fair deal, yet they are demanding an excessive increase. They 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. We are very disappointed with their position, which has negatively impacted our customers.
"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 cab le TV prices, and we are fighting hard to hold the line on programming rates imposed on us by companies like Disney.
Our negotiations are about one thing - reaching an agreement that is fair to our customers. We understand this is an inconvenience and hope to return this programming soon. We appreciate your loyalty and look forward to continue to serve you.
"The Walt Disney Company, the owner of this channel, has removed their programming from Spectrum which creates hardship for our customers. We apologize for the inconvenience and are continuing to negotiate in good faith in order to reach a fair agreement."
SEC statement on ESPN blackout
The Southeastern Conference released a statement to the USA TODAY Network acknowledging the ESPN outage on Spectrum:
"We are aware that Disney Entertainment’s existing agreement with Charter Communications, which includes ESPN and the SEC Network, expired on Aug. 31. I refer you to Disney Entertainment/ESPN PR for any further information."
What channels are affected?
Disney owns several sports and entertainment stations, including ESPN and its various networks:
ESPN
ESPN2
ESPNU
ACC Network
The Longhorn Network
SEC Network
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why ESPN is not working on Spectrum
