Disney and Charter Communications on Monday ended their epic squabble that blacked out ESPN and ABC to nearly 15 million subscribers — but a slew of channels, including kids’ favorite Disney Junior — were sacrificed in the method.
The deal over carriage fees, which restored ESPN hours before the much-anticipated “Monday Night Football” opener featuring Aaron Rodgers and the Jets, will give Charter customers access to the Mouse House’s popular streaming services — while slimming down Disney’s bundle of 19 channels.
Charter agreed to pay Disney’s higher price to carry ESPN, however the cable company can even be allowed to include Disney+ in its $60-a-month Spectrum TV Select offering, the businesses said.
Charter can pay Disney a wholesale price for the service, according to individuals with knowledge of the matter, cited by Bloomberg.
“This deal sets the framework for what ought to be developed throughout your complete industry,” said Charter Chief Executive Chris Winfrey in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
Winfrey added that Disney’s willingness to meet Charter halfway gives the entertainment giant a chance to “transform the video business model,” the Journal reported.
Nonetheless, part of the transformation will entail the elimination of popular channels like Disney Junior, Freeform, Disney XD and Nat Geo Wild from Spectrum, whose 14.7 million subscribers include those in Latest York and Los Angeles.
![Parents took to X to complain about the elimination of Disney Junior from Spectrum's cable package.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000034467275.jpg?w=1024)
Parents — who depend upon Disney Junior favorites like “Bluey” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” to entertain their kids — were left fuming.
“My toddler watches Disney Junior non-stop! This is just not a helpful resolution for us!! Bring back Disney Junior!!” tweeted one indignant parent on the rebranded Twitter site X.
“I’m so mad at once spectrum removed Disney Junior and Disney XD permanently I loved those channels,” wrote one other.
“Disney Junior was such an enormous part of my daughter’s life. We spent so many glad hours together watching shows there. Sad other kiddos won’t get the possibility,” a customer added.
![Disney Junior is known for such shows as](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000034470233.jpg?w=1024)
Charter and Disney noted that much of the content from the eliminated channels — including Disney Junior — will migrate to streaming platforms similar to Disney+ or Hulu, or to Charter’s other cable properties.
“Our collective goal has at all times been to construct an revolutionary model for the long run. This deal recognizes each the continued value of linear television and the growing popularity of streaming services, while addressing the evolving needs of our consumers,” Disney CEO Bob Iger and Charter CEO Chris Winfrey said in a joint statement Monday.
Lately, the long run of channels like Disney Junior have been called into query as Disney+ has grown and expanded its offering of TV shows and films.
In 2020, the Mouse House killed the Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Junior in the UK, because it moved those channels to Disney+. Other markets like Australia, Latest Zealand and Malaysia followed suit.
![Charter's Spectrum service restored Disney's channels-except for a handful which were being killed as part of the new deal.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000017878473-1.jpg?w=1024)
Charter’s deal with Disney followed a nasty dispute, which began Aug. 31, and had caused Spectrum subscribers to miss major sporting events, including teenager Coco Gauff’s dramatic run to win the US Open tennis title.
Amid the general public tussle, the Mouse House urged customers to subscribe to Hulu + Live TV, in order to gain access to programming from ABC and ESPN.
![During the spat with Charter, Disney CEO Bob Iger urged cable subscribers to cut the cord and sign up for DIsney's Hulu + Live TV.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000014061934.jpg?w=1024)
The Charter/Disney battle comes as cable providers scramble to keep customers from cutting the cord, and media corporations push to expand their streaming offerings to capture recent subscribers.
Charter said it is going to maintain “flexibility” to offer “a variety of video packages at various price points based upon different customer viewing preferences.”