After Major Charter Deal, Disney+’s Ad Version Launches for Spectrum Subscribers
Spectrum TV select customers will have access to the ad-supported version of Disney+ starting Thursday.
The access comes as part of the landmark deal struck between Charter Communications and the Walt Disney Company in September. The deal followed a carriage dispute between the two companies that saw Disney channels, including ESPN, local ABC stations, FX and Disney Channel, blacked out for close to 15 million Spectrum subscribers for about a week starting Aug. 31.
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In addition to the restoration of those channels, the deal granted Spectrum Select TV subscribers access to Disney+ at no additional cost and will see ESPN+ added to the video package for Spectrum TV Select Plus subscribers, the more sports-centric tier of the TV packages, at no additional cost. The access to ESPN+ will begin in the coming months, Charter said Thursday.
In exchange, Charter pledged to market Disney’s streaming services to its broadband customers. And, some of Disney’s cable channels, including Freeform, FXX, Disney Junior and Nat Geo Wild, will no longer be offered on Spectrum.
The deal, innovative for pulling streaming services into the cable bundle, has been lauded by many others in the entertainment industry, with leaders from AMC, Altice, TelevisaUnivision and more viewing it as the way forward, amid dwindling linear subscriptions.
“With the launch of the Disney+ Basic offer, TV Select customers can now enjoy access to Disney’s popular streaming content as well as their high-quality linear TV channels, all included as part of one video package,” said Tom Montemagno, executive vice president, programming acquisition for Charter. “As the video industry continues to evolve, we are committed to including direct-to-consumer apps like Disney+ with Spectrum services while providing a simplified TV viewing experience through platforms such as the Xumo Stream Box. We are pleased to partner with Disney to further this goal to the benefit of our mutual customers.”
“The inclusion of Disney+ alongside a curated lineup of our TV channels brings the best of both worlds from Disney’s unrivaled entertainment portfolio to Charter’s video customers,” said Justin Connolly, president, platform distribution, The Walt Disney Company. “Our goal has always been to meet consumers where they are, and these collective offerings will maximize value for Spectrum TV Select customers while simultaneously broadening the audience of our advertiser supported streaming services.”
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