ESPN, Disney channels restored for Spectrum customers, just in time for football

David Bruce, Erie Times-News
Updated ·2 min read

Spectrum cable TV subscribers, including those in northwestern Pennsylvania, once again have access to ESPN and other Disney-owned channels, just in time for Monday Night Football.

Officials with Disney and Charter Communications, Spectrum's parent company, have agreed on a new distribution deal that immediately restored access to many Disney-owned channels for Spectrum customers. Those channels had been removed Sept. 1.

A photo of what Spectrum cable television customers saw from Sept. 1 until Monday when they tried to watch ESPN, Disney Channel or other Disney owned channels. Disney pulled its programming after reaching an impasse in contract talks with Spectrum. An agreement was announced Monday.
A photo of what Spectrum cable television customers saw from Sept. 1 until Monday when they tried to watch ESPN, Disney Channel or other Disney owned channels. Disney pulled its programming after reaching an impasse in contract talks with Spectrum. An agreement was announced Monday.

"This deal recognizes both the continued value of linear television and the growing popularity of streaming services, while addressing the evolving needs of our consumers," the companies said in a joint statement. "We also want to thank our mutual customers for their patience this past week, and are pleased that Spectrum viewers once again have access to Disney’s high-quality sports, news and entertainment programming, in time for Monday Night Football."

This week's Monday Night Football game features the Buffalo Bills at the New York Jets and is scheduled to be shown on both ESPN and ABC.

More: Spectrum customers in Erie without ESPN, Disney programs due to contract impasse

What does the agreement include?

According to a news release, the deal's key points are:

  • In the coming months, the Disney+ Basic ad-supported offering will be provided to customers who purchase the Spectrum TV Select package, as part of a wholesale arrangement;

  • ESPN+ will be provided to Spectrum TV Select Plus subscribers;

  • The ESPN flagship direct-to-consumer service will be made available to Spectrum TV Select subscribers upon launch and;

  • Spectrum will maintain flexibility to offer a range of video packages at varying price points based upon different customer’s viewing preferences.

Spectrum also will be able to offer Disney’s direct-to-consumer services — including Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ — to its broadband-only customers.

Which Disney channels aren't coming back to Spectrum?

Some Disney channels will not return to Spectrum, including Baby TV, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Freeform, FXM, FXX, Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo Mundo.

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Disney, Spectrum reach deal; ESPN, other channels restored to lineup