The Walt Disney Company and Spectrum parent company Charter Communications have struck a new distribution deal.
Disney x Charter Deal
The two companies have been at odds since 2023, when all Disney channels went dark for Spectrum customers for a 10-day period. The companies reached a carriage deal, restoring some of Disney’s networks, but others were left out of the deal. Disney also agreed to make ad-supported Disney+ Basic available at no additional cost to Spectrum TV Select customers.
With the new deal, Spectrum TV Select customers will have access to ad-supported Hulu at no additional cost, and Charter will restore eight Disney-owned cable networks to their linear Spectrum line-up: Disney Jr, Disney XD, Freeform, FXX, FXM, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Mundo, and BabyTV.
Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, Disney bundles, and the upcoming ESPN streaming service will be available for purchase to Charter’s broadband-only customers at retail rates. TV Select customers will be able to upgrade to the ad-free tiers of Disney+ and Hulu.
This agreement extends the 2023 deal “well into the future.”
“This extension is a true testament to our mutual confidence in this innovative model — which already is showing improvement in subscriber churn — and our commitment to work creatively together to achieve win-win outcomes for both of us and most importantly for our customers — all achieved mid-cycle and absent from any of the typical pressures from expiring agreements,” said Tom Montemagno, executive vice president of Charter’s programming acquisition.
“With the addition of Hulu and the return of our full portfolio of channels, we’re pleased to expand and extend our agreement with Charter – delivering the most robust and valuable combination of linear and streaming entertainment for years to come,” said Sean Breen, executive vice president of Disney Platform Distribution. “This agreement reflects our continued focus on leaning into the strength of Disney’s best-in-class programming across every genre and platform – and our shared commitment with Charter to building innovative, consumer-focused distribution models that drive value across the board.”
Source: Variety
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