Spectrum/Disney dispute, channel blockage

[DCBaker]

CNBC reporting Disney and Charter are nearing a carriage deal.

"The blackout fight between cable giant Charter Communications and Disney appears to be coming to a close.

Hours ahead of “Monday Night Football,” which airs on Disney’s pay-TV network ESPN, the companies are expected to reach a deal that would allow millions of Charter cable customers to watch the game, CNBC’s David Faber reported Monday, citing sources.

Charter and Disney’s stocks, as well as media peers including Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global were trading higher on Monday morning.

Representatives for Disney and Charter didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment."

Disney, Charter near carriage deal that would end cable blackout, sources say

www.cnbc.com

 

[TsWade2]

CNBC reporting Disney and Charter are nearing a carriage deal.

"The blackout fight between cable giant Charter Communications and Disney appears to be coming to a close.

Hours ahead of “Monday Night Football,” which airs on Disney’s pay-TV network ESPN, the companies are expected to reach a deal that would allow millions of Charter cable customers to watch the game, CNBC’s David Faber reported Monday, citing sources.

Charter and Disney’s stocks, as well as media peers including Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global were trading higher on Monday morning.

Representatives for Disney and Charter didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment."

What? I thought Spectrum is done with Disney! But happy news!

 

[Slpy3270]

"Terms of the deal are said to include a discounted wholesale price for subscribers for Disney streaming services, and an increase in marketplace, or subscriber fees, paid to Disney."

This was always how it was going to end. Talk about a waste of time.

 

[DCBaker]

Here's the official announcement from Disney.

The Walt Disney Company and Charter Communications Announce Transformative Agreement for Distribution of Disney's Linear Networks and Direct-To-Consumer Services - The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) and Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR) today announced a transformative, multiyear distribution agreement that maximizes value for consumers and …Read More

thewaltdisneycompany.com

 

[Slpy3270]

Seems like Disney came out on top here.

 

[Slpy3270]

Here's the official announcement from Disney.

The Walt Disney Company and Charter Communications Announce Transformative Agreement for Distribution of Disney's Linear Networks and Direct-To-Consumer Services - The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) and Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR) today announced a transformative, multiyear distribution agreement that maximizes value for consumers and …Read More

thewaltdisneycompany.com

Networks that will no longer be included in Spectrum TV video packages are Baby TV, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Freeform, FXM, FXX, Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo Mundo

Now we know which channels are getting shut down later this year.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

So spectrum got most of what it wanted…from the looks of it?

Wonder what the carry fees are?

 

[monothingie]

So spectrum got most of what it wanted…from the looks of it?

Wonder what the carry fees are?

Disney DTC services get loads of paying “subscribers”.

Smoke and Mirrors…

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Disney DTC services get loads of paying “subscribers”.

Smoke and Mirrors…

And charter wanted to break the bundle…which happened

 

[TsWade2]

Here's the official announcement from Disney.

The Walt Disney Company and Charter Communications Announce Transformative Agreement for Distribution of Disney's Linear Networks and Direct-To-Consumer Services - The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) and Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR) today announced a transformative, multiyear distribution agreement that maximizes value for consumers and …Read More

thewaltdisneycompany.com

Yippee skippy! I’ve got my ABC and Disney Channel back! Whee!

 

[Slpy3270]

Hearing people say the channels being left out are getting sold. Absolutely no chance anyone will buy networks not on Charter and are likely to be dropped by more providers. More likely they're getting shuttered by the end of the year.

 

[Disney Irish]

And charter wanted to break the bundle…which happened

Except looking at the details of the deal, it doesn't appear much of a bundle was actually broken up. As most of the channels being "dropped" aren't the ones being complained about.

The only thing that really that appears to be happening is that ad supported D+ and ESPN+ will be offered for free to certain Spectrum tier groups. Something that Charter appears to have wanted so they don't lose customers when Disney releases ESPN DTC at a future date.

So really this was never about breaking up the bundle, its was always about making sure Charter doesn't lose sports customers (the most lucrative consumers) in the future....

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Except looking at the details of the deal, it doesn't appear much of a bundle was actually broken up. As most of the channels being "dropped" aren't the ones being complained about.

The only thing that really that appears to be happening is that ad supported D+ and ESPN+ will be offered for free to certain Spectrum tier groups. Something that Charter appears to have wanted so they don't lose customers when Disney releases ESPN DTC at a future date.

So really this was never about break up the bundle, its was always about making sure Charter doesn't lose sports customers (the most lucrative consumers) in the future .

The goal - I believe - was to pry the door open to so they can shed more channels as they see fit?

But alot of what ifs, buts, candy and nuts…

The reality is the cable bundles will die a rather quick death as the boomers phase out…in theory.

So at the end of the day…it’s Sabre rattling and the trends for both provider and carrier won’t change much. Both in decline

 

[Disney Irish]

The goal - I believe - was to pry the door open to so they can shed more channels as they see fit?

But alot of what ifs, buts, candy and nuts…

The reality is the cable bundles will die a rather quick death as the boomers phase out…in theory.

So at the end of the day…it’s Sabre rattling and the trends for both provider and carrier won’t change much. Both in decline

Obviously we can't see the future, but I see it as mostly bluster by Charter about the "bundle break up". They didn't want to break up the bundle, they just wanted to make sure their legacy cable business would survive a bit longer when ESPN is offered for a lower price DTC. They still don't get to shed channels that Disney doesn't want them to shed, and never will.

 

[mightynine]

Hearing people say the channels being left out are getting sold. Absolutely no chance anyone will buy networks not on Charter and are likely to be dropped by more providers. More likely they're getting shuttered by the end of the year.

Sold or shuttered. Who's going to buy channels that, as you say, are likely to be dropped by even more providers now that Charter's drawn the line in the sand?

 

[Slpy3270]

Sold or shuttered. Who's going to buy channels that, as you say, are likely to be dropped by even more providers now that Charter's drawn the line in the sand?

Plus Disney has said they want to keep the content studios attached to said networks, so I'm guessing they feel they'll get more return shutting them down than selling them at a loss.

 

[mightynine]

Plus Disney has said they want to keep the content studios attached to said networks, so I'm guessing they feel they'll get more return shutting them down than selling them at a loss.

And for something like FXX for example, you can easily move the big shows like Sunny and The Simpsons back to FX.

 

[Slpy3270]

And for something like FXX for example, you can easily move the big shows like Sunny and The Simpsons back to FX.

The Simpsons probably stays exclusive to Disney+. It's Always Sunny will likely move back to FX, though.

As for the Freeform shows like Cruel Summer, Good Trouble and grown-ish, they'll probably be split between FX and ABC, though I can't imagine grown-ish staying on for long.

 

[Disney Irish]

Sold or shuttered. Who's going to buy channels that, as you say, are likely to be dropped by even more providers now that Charter's drawn the line in the sand?

I have huge doubts that Disney is looking to really sell any of those channels.

Plus Disney has said they want to keep the content studios attached to said networks, so I'm guessing they feel they'll get more return shutting them down than selling them at a loss.

All those channels are fed by other studios outside of and within the company, there is no studio directly attached to any of those channels that I'm aware.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Its hard to decide who I dislike more about this, Spectrum or TWDC.

I've got it, I think I dislike TWDC more about this because content is Spectrum's entire business and content is used as a weapon by TWDC.