Spectrum customers get ESPN, other Disney networks back in Milwaukee

A report by the Wall Street Journal, independently confirmed by Deadline and CNBC, indicated that the standoff between Charter Communications and Disney had come to an end Monday morning, meaning Spectrum cable subscribers in Milwaukee and elsewhere have regained access to ESPN and other Disney networks.

At 10:50 a.m. in Milwaukee, ESPN programming returned to the station on Spectrum, replacing the Spectrum messaging that had taken its place.

The channels went dark Sept. 1 just as the college-football games for the evening were kicking off, the result of a complicated dispute that included some existential questions about whether Charter wanted to stay in the current video business at all.

Spectrum is the trade name for Charter's video/cable business.

The dispute threatened to black out several "Monday Night Football" games from Milwaukee-area homes, although the Sept. 11 game featuring ex-Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was already going to appear on ABC, which in Milwaukee is owned by Hearst Communications and not part of the Disney blackout.

“This deal recognizes both the continued value of linear television and the growing popularity of streaming services, while addressing the evolving needs of our consumers," read a joint statement issued by company heads Robert Iger of the Walt Disney Company and Chris Winfrey of Charter. "We also want to thank our mutual customers for their patience this past week, and are pleased that Spectrum viewers once again have access to Disney’s high-quality sports, news and entertainment programming, in time for Monday Night Football.”

As part of the deal, ESPN+ will be provided to Spectrum TV Select Plus subscribers, and a Disney+ ad-supported offering will be provided to customers who purchase the Spectrum TV Select package.

The ESPN flagship direct-to-consumer service will also be made available to Spectrum TV Select subscribers, and Charter customers of any kind (including broadband-only) will have the chance to purchase Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ and the Disney Bundle at retail rates.

More urgently for current Spectrum subscribers, channels such as the Disney Channel, FX, Nat Geo and all ESPN networks were restored.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Disney networks, including ESPN, return to Spectrum in Milwaukee