Tuesday September 26, 2023
The Best Employers in Sports Survey is Now Open!

Charter Deal Shows ESPN, Disney Need Linear Carriage

  • Battling companies strike "transformative" agreement to end standoff.
  • Charter gains enhanced ability to customize linear, digital packages.
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Front Office Sports Today

Writer’s Strike End a Boon for Sports Networks, Agencies

We delve into the potential long-term impact of the five-month strike.
Listen Now
September 26, 2023 | Podcast
Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

The mere prospect of losing a single NFL game to the Disney-Charter Spectrum dispute helped broker a new deal between the two battling companies.

Just hours before the start of ESPN’s coverage of “Monday Night Football” featuring the highly anticipated matchup of the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, Disney and Charter completed what they are calling a “transformative agreement,” ending a standoff that lasted nearly 11 days.

The deal gets networks such as ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU back on the country’s second-largest cable carrier, providing a key segment of linear carriage for Disney — Charter’s 14.7 million subscribers — and at elevated rates for the company.

A Win For Spectrum Subscribers?

Perhaps more importantly for consumers, the deal grants Charter a series of digital elements, including the ability to offer ESPN+ and an ad-supported version of Disney+ to linear-TV subscribers, as well as the forthcoming full, direct-to-consumer version of ESPN to Spectrum TV Select subscribers. 

Charter will also market Disney-owned streaming services to its customers, particularly its broadband-only consumers. That elevated combination of linear and streaming programming will allow Charter to offer a heightened level of choice to consumers. 

After the now-concluded U.S. Open and two weekends of college football failed to prompt a deal, Disney and Charter’s announcement directly referenced giving Charter subscribers access to Disney programming “in time for ‘Monday Night Football.’” That restored access will be particularly impactful in New York, one of Charter’s top markets, with Monday’s Jets game.

“This deal recognizes both the continued value of linear television and growing popularity of streaming services, while addressing the evolving needs of our consumers,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger and Charter CEO Chris Winfrey in a joint statement.

With Charter’s enhanced ability to customize linear and streaming packages for consumers, as well as most-favored-nation clauses that can promote deal parity across the cable business, Disney could ultimately strike similar agreements with other major carriers. 

Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

A view of a Manchester United badge on the corner flag.

Ratcliffe Reworking Bid To Buy Manchester United

It is still unclear whether the Glazers will sell the club.

Sounders Eye Leaving Lumen Field For Soccer-Specific Stadium

MLS club considers further development at forthcoming training complex

ESPN Reportedly Closing Studios In Aftermath Of Layoffs

ESPN's Seaport studio will reportedly close by 2025.

NFL's Next International Goal: Games in Spain, Brazil

A league executive says the games could take place in 2024.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Writer’s Strike End a Boon for Sports Networks, Agencies

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

NFL's Swift Mania Starting To Show Impact Through Merch Sales, Viewership

Taylor Swift stole the NFL's spotlight by attending Sunday's Chiefs game.
First Take vs. FS1
September 26, 2023

Sharpe: 'First Take' Would Still Beat 'Undisputed' Without Stephen A.

Even if Smith leaves, Sharpe said he will still beat Skip Bayless in the ratings.
Rob-Manfred-MLB
September 25, 2023

Oakland-MLB Relationship Devolves Into Next-Level Toxicity

Commissioner, mayor have very different accounts of July meeting
Jacksonville Jaguars Team President Mark Lamping addressed community members at Strings Sports Brewery on Main Street for the first of 14 planned town hall sessions to present the team's plans for the new "stadium of the future" complex and address the public concerns.
September 25, 2023

Jacksonville Jaguars President Walks Back Stadium ‘Threat’

"Viewing those comments as a threat to leave Jacksonville isn't correct."

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
Chicago Cubs
Chicago
Fanatics
New York
Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group, Inc.
USA - Multiple Locations
Coach Prime bringing improved tv ratings.

Coach Prime's Colorado Changing College Football Viewing Habits

The excitement around Deion Sanders and Colorado is helping drive record September TV ratings for college football.
Chiefs-Bears was the most-watched NFL game on any network this week — averaging 24.3 million viewers on FOX.
September 26, 2023

CBS Nets 13-Year High in September NFL Viewership

This month’s NFL on CBS broadcasts averaged 18.69 million viewers.
Viewership for TNF on Amazon is up 21% through two weeks over last season.
September 26, 2023

Amazon Gets Back-to-Back 'Thursday Night Football' Ratings Wins

Amazon's TNF viewership is up 21% through two weeks over last season.
Ohio State players celebrate after after their defeat of Notre Dame in the final seconds at Notre Dame Stadium.
September 25, 2023

Ohio State-Notre Dame Scores Historic 10.5M Viewers for NBC

It was NBC’s second-most-watched regular-season college football game ever.
The in-market KnightTime+ streaming service will offer 69 regular-season games.
September 25, 2023

Vegas Golden Knights Launch New Streaming Model Amid RSN Fallout

The KnightTime+ streaming service will offer 69 regular-season games.
September 24, 2023

Fox Opts For College Sports Over WWE Post-UFC Merger

Fox has plenty of college sports to lean on in WWE's absence.
Deion Sanders and The Rock
September 21, 2023

Deion Sanders Reshaping College Football Fanbase With Buffaloes Surge

Deion Sanders has made Colorado "Black America's Team."
NBC will reportedly pay $287 million annually across five years to air broadcast on USA Network.
September 21, 2023

NBC Inks WWE SmackDown Rights for Reported $1.4 Billion

The reported rights fee is about 40% higher than SmackDown's Fox deal.