Advanced Television

Disney/Altice deal averts blackout

October 2, 2017

By Colin Mann

Walt Disney Co reached a tentative carriage deal with New York cable provider Altice USA on October 1st, averting a blackout of Disney-owned channels in nearly 2.6 million homes in the greater New York area served by the MSO’s Optimum cable TV service.

The retransmission standoff saw the companies reach an agreement in principle by the 5 p.m. ET deadline. “We have reached an agreement in principle and have extended the deadline accordingly to try and finalize the terms,” said the pair in a joint statement.

The companies have been negotiating over how much Altice will pay to carry channels owned by Disney. Their contract had expired and sports fans were facing the possibility of not being able to watch Monday Night Football and a New York Yankees playoff game Tuesday October 3rd on ESPN.

The companies were divided over issues such as Disney’s request for higher fees, which Altice called “exorbitant”, and a commitment to carry two college sports channels.

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