ESPN and other Disney-owned channels cut from Spectrum amid dispute

ESPN is one of more than two dozen Disney Entertainment channels that has gone dark on Spectrum due to a carriage dispute between the outlet and provider Charter Spectrum.

Bills fans who live on the outskirts of the Buffalo Niagara region and subscribe to Spectrum could be dealing with similar disappointment: The Buffalo Bills season opener against the New York Jets is scheduled to be carried on ESPN at 8:15 p.m. on Sept. 11.

That won’t be a problem for those in the WKBW-TV viewing area, since Channel 7 will broadcast the game over the air. But it will be an issue for fans elsewhere, such as in Rochester and Syracuse, since stations there can’t carry the game.

In addition to all ESPN network channels, ABC-owned stations, Disney-branded channels, Freeform, FX and National Geographic channel have gone dark on Charter Spectrum.

Charter Spectrum said this is “not a typical carriage dispute,” which involves companies moving content out of their linear channels and into their a la carte direct-to-consumer offerings, with fewer commercials and “permissive” password rules, as consumers move away from traditional cable and into streaming services.

“The current video ecosystem is broken, and we know there is a better path that will deliver video products with the choice consumers want,” Charter Spectrum said in a statement.

“The Walt Disney Co. and Charter are uniquely capable to lead the way, which is why we are disappointed that thus far they have insisted on unsustainable price hikes and forcing customers to take their products, even when they don’t want or can’t afford them,” Charter Spectrum said. “They also want to require customers to pay twice to get content apps with the linear video they have already paid for.”

Both Charter Spectrum and Disney said they have been trying to…