LOS ANGELES: Walt Disney Co and cable operator Altice USA reached a tentative programming deal that keeps ESPN and other networks in the homes of millions of New York-area pay TV customers, the companies said in a statement on Sunday. Disney and Altice have been sparring over how much the cable operator would pay to continue carrying ESPN, ABC and other channels on its Optimum cable service. Both sides are under pressure from cord cutting, or dropping of pay TV service, as audiences flock to cheaper streaming services.
“We have reached an agreement in principle and have extended the deadline accordingly to try and finalise the terms,” a joint statement from the companies said.
The deal came as Disney was preparing to pull its networks from Optimum. That could have deprived customers from seeing Tuesday’s baseball playoff game between the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees as well as “Monday Night Football” and other programming. A blackout could have sent customers fleeing to other options.
Disney secured fee increases for ESPN, local affiliate WABC and other major networks, according to sources familiar with the talks who requested anonymity because the negotiations were private.
The amount of the increases was not disclosed. Altice said in September it had offered to pay higher fees but called Disney’s proposal at the time “outrageous.”
Altice USA is the fourth-largest US cable operator, formed by Netherlands-based Altice NV through its acquisitions of Cablevision — now Optimum — and Suddenlink Communications. — Reuters
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
