Thursday, May 21, 2026

Disney and Charter Reportedly End Cable TV Carriage Dispute

  • Deal restores ESPN and other channels to nearly 15 million customers across the country.
  • The resolution comes only hours before Aaron Rodgers’ highly anticipated regular-season debut on “Monday Night Football.”
ESPN microphone on press table
Troy Taormina-Imgan Images

The Walt Disney Co. and Charter Communications have reached a deal that will restore ESPN and other channels to nearly 15 million customers across the country, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The resolution of their $2.2 billion carriage dispute will end a blackout of Disney-owned channels on Charter’s Spectrum cable network that lasted a week. 

It comes only hours before ESPN shows Aaron Rodgers’ highly anticipated regular-season debut for the New York Jets against the Buffalo Bills on “Monday Night Football.”

ESPN camera operator at a basketball game.

What’s Behind Disney’s $2.2 Billion Carriage Dispute With Charter?

Charter victory could spell end of the disintegrating pay cable TV bundle.
September 5, 2023

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, according to CNBC.

The peace treaty drove up the prices of Disney and Charter Monday morning on Wall Street, as well as other legacy media stocks such as Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery.

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