Disney pulled its channels, together with ABC and ESPN, from Constitution Spectrum’s pay-TV service on Thursday night, leaving hundreds of thousands of viewers with out entry to the large school soccer recreation between Florida Gators and Utah, the US Open Tennis, and favorites akin to Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
The choice got here amid an extended and tense distribution payment dispute between Disney and Constitution Spectrum. When Spectrum viewers tuned into Disney channels on Thursday, they had been met with a blue display screen and the message, “We apologize for the inconvenience and are persevering with to barter in good religion in an effort to attain a good settlement.”
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“We’ve been in ongoing negotiations with Constitution Communications for a while and haven’t but agreed to a brand new market-based settlement,” Disney stated in a press release (per the LA Times). “Consequently, their Spectrum TV subscribers now not have entry to our unequalled portfolio of reside sporting occasions and information protection plus youngsters, household and basic leisure programming.”
Spectrum responded with their very own assertion on disneyespnfairdeal.com, writing, “The Walt Disney Firm has eliminated their programming from Spectrum which creates hardship for our prospects. We supplied Disney a good deal, but they’re demanding an extreme improve.”
The affected stations embody native ABC associates, ESPN networks, FX and FXX, Freeform, Nationwide Geographic, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and extra. All these channels went darkish round 8 pm ET on Thursday, that means viewers misplaced entry to the much-anticipated school soccer recreation between the College of Utah and the College of Florida.
In line with CBS News, Constitution Spectrum has 14.7 million subscribers, and plenty of of these customers took to social media on Thursday evening to air their frustrations.
“Will I be getting a reduction on my TV invoice since I pay for all of those channels and might’t watch them?” tweeted one viewer.
“I’ve a robust feeling that if Spectrum doesn’t repair this mess with Disney/ESPN by tomorrow, they received’t have any prospects within the South…” stated one other.
“Billionaires preventing & the patron will get screwed,” wrote one other. “No superior warning, My display screen went clean at 8p & this message popped up. I’ll be canceling spectrum if this isn’t resolved by Sat & I’m compelled to get a streaming service to look at content material that I’ve already paid for.”
@GetSpectrum Will I be getting a reduction on my TV invoice since I pay for all of those channels and might’t watch them? #Disney #Spectrum pic.twitter.com/p64iZJENed
— ✭ Tim ✭ (@Sporty_meteor) September 1, 2023
Billionaires preventing & the patron will get screwed. No superior warning, My display screen went clean at 8p & this message popped up.I’ll be canceling spectrum if this isn’t resolved by Sat & I’m compelled to get a streaming service to look at content material that I’ve already paid for. @GetSpectrum pic.twitter.com/3SOeRDxy6a
— Mike Cavanaugh (@mikecav878) September 1, 2023
I’ve a robust feeling that if Spectrum doesn’t repair this mess with Disney/ESPN by tomorrow, they received’t have any prospects within the South…
— Cindy Morris (@ckmorr238) September 1, 2023
Take a look at extra response beneath.
That is what the Disney & ESPN channels had been now gone on Spectrum. pic.twitter.com/IC04uJTyPv
— DynamiteCupcakeMaster (@HauntedCM22) September 1, 2023
14+ Disney channels eliminated we PAY for. ➡️ So, Spectrum, how a lot rebate per day? 14 million prospects is not going to pay reg worth with out these channels. https://t.co/9AgkY0YELM
— Scarlett Bama 🅰️🏈🐘🏖️✝️ (@scarlettbama) September 1, 2023
As if Spectrum wasn’t already tremendous costly, right here we’re in week certainly one of school soccer & they’re now not broadcasting ESPN 😡 pic.twitter.com/yhbYcHIxPX
— Ludanmama (@ludanmama) September 1, 2023
Spectrum & ESPN blackouts
What went down…. pic.twitter.com/PsidAbGEdE
— Gamer1🎮🕹 (@LFCFanClub3) September 1, 2023
Everybody coping with Spectrum. pic.twitter.com/kL0i63ZWys
— Stoolies🏴☠️ (@SpacesStoolies) September 1, 2023
Canceling #Spectrum if ESPN isn’t again by 7:30 tomorrow evening.
— Matt Classes (@mattrsessions) September 1, 2023
YouTube TV and Hulu customers seeing Spectrum blackout ESPN: pic.twitter.com/YkPm9nD2tq
— Danny Armstrong (@DArmstrong44) September 1, 2023
