The Walt Disney Co. (DIS) -) is becoming more aggressive with Charter Communications (CHTR) -).
Disney released a statement obtained by TheStreet that accuses Charter and its cable provider of “denying” fans the access to the company’s programming by not resolving the dispute that has kept Disney’s channels like ESPN dark for Spectrum’s 14.7 million subscribers.
“It’s unfortunate that Charter decided to abandon their customers by denying them access to our great programming,” the statement read.
DON’T MISS: ESPN blacked out for millions on huge sports day due to Disney dispute
Disney’s channels have been blacked out on Spectrum since August 31. ESPN and ESPN2 have aired major sporting events like the opening week of NCAA college football and the U.S. Open — which will have its semifinals and finals in men’s and women’s tennis over the next four days.
Even the athletes competing in the tennis Grand Slam said they were unable to legally watch their own competitors due to Spectrum being the cable provider of their hotel.
The NFL season also kicks off on Sept. 7, and ESPN will air its first edition of “Monday Night Football” for the season on Sept. 11.
More Disney/Charter:
- Stephen A. Smith is helping ESPN, customers amid Charter, Disney holdout
- Fight with Charter is 'existential' for Disney, Former NBC exec says
- Disney has made a strange move to help some athletes due to Charter dispute
Disney also said in its statement that Charter has rejected multiple offers.
Charter’s CEO Chris Winfrey said at a Goldman Sachs press conference that the company has a “sense of urgency” to resolve the issue and is already searching for alternative options should it be unable to strike a deal with Disney.
“We’ve already had a bunch of reach outs, we’ve already had a lot of people who would … like to either do something outside of a renewal or actually accelerate a renewal with this in context and so I’m pretty confident that we can get this in place,” he said.
On Sept. 1, Charter also released a statement saying that it has entered negotiations with Disney but feels Disney’s offers “ignore the realities of a shifting marketplace.”
Charter did not respond to TheStreet's request for comment at the time of publishing.
New Statement From The Walt Disney Company Regarding Charter pic.twitter.com/awgxCxC3fz
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) September 7, 2023
Get investment guidance from trusted portfolio managers without the management fees. Sign up for Action Alerts PLUS now.
