why did disney leave spectrum

Disney and Spectrum (Charter Communications) had a carriage dispute that led to Disney pulling its channels, including ESPN and ABC, from Spectrum's lineup starting August 31, 2023. This happened because the two companies could not agree on a new distribution deal or the carriage fees Spectrum would pay to Disney for carrying its networks. Charter claimed Disney demanded an excessive increase in fees, while Disney emphasized the popularity of its channels and sought to maintain its revenue from carriage fees amid a declining linear TV audience. The dispute caused millions of Spectrum subscribers to lose access to Disney channels, including ESPN, FX, and ABC affiliates, coinciding with major sports events like the U.S. Open and college football. After a 10-day blackout and intense public and subscriber backlash, Disney and Charter reached a new carriage agreement that restored most Disney channels on Spectrum. The deal included Charter paying more fees to Disney and gaining the ability to offer Disney's streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ bundled with Spectrum packages. However, some Disney channels, mostly kids and young adult focused, were dropped from the lineup as part of the compromise. In summary, Disney left Spectrum temporarily due to a carriage fee negotiation breakdown but returned after reaching a new deal acknowledging the evolving landscape of pay-TV and streaming consumption.