Charter subscribers can now enjoy the benefits of ESPN+ as part of their subscription, following the unlocking of another aspect of the Charter/Disney carriage deal. The long-awaited access to ESPN+ was finally granted to Charter’s Spectrum TV Select Plus subscribers, in addition to the previously activated Disney+ Basic access.
The collaboration between Charter and Disney aims to enhance the customer experience, as stated by Tom Montemagno, Executive Vice President, Programming Acquisition for Charter. This move is designed to cater to the evolving viewing habits of sports fans by offering a high-value video package that includes both linear and direct-to-consumer sports content.
Justin Connolly, President, Platform Distribution, The Walt Disney Company, highlighted the significance of adding ESPN+ to Spectrum’s offerings, emphasizing the comprehensive entertainment solution it provides for Spectrum customers. The inclusion of ESPN+ aims to bridge the gap between linear TV and streaming services, offering a wider audience access to ESPN’s linear and direct-to-consumer content, including NCAA Women’s Basketball, FA Cup Soccer, NHL games, and more.
Furthermore, Charter’s use of the Disney carriage deal as a template for future negotiations was evident in their recent agreement with TelevisaUnivision, which granted subscribers access to Vix, the streaming service owned by the company. Additionally, the carriage deal with Disney provides Charter customers access to the upcoming ESPN direct-to-consumer (DTC) service, expected to launch next year.
Since the initial deal announcement, Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery also revealed the launch of a sports streaming joint venture, which was not part of the Disney/Charter carriage deal. This development signifies Charter’s proactive approach in leveraging carriage deals to enhance their offerings and provide added value to their subscribers.
