Disney & ESPN Returning To Michigan Spectrum Users
If you're anything like me and like to watch/stream your favorite sports/sports teams whenever you get the chance then you know that you're cable provider is an important piece to that. Almost 2 weeks ago now all Spectrum users in Michigan and the rest of the US lost their privileges to Disney, ABC, ESPN, and the rest of the channels that the Walt Disney Company runs.
Spectrum Cable users could have seen this coming as the cable provider's contract was expiring and they couldn't reach a deal as the expiration date came closer. Disney was asking for more money from Spectrum while Spectrum was trying to keep its services affordable for its clients. Due to the ongoing discussion for about 2 weeks now, Spectrum cable users have had to use other means for these channels, until today.
It was announced Monday, September 11th around 11 am EST that the Disney-owned channels would be making their way back to Spectrum Users and their streaming platforms immediately. Of course, this is good news as children, moms, and dads can have their favorites back, but there's also some bad news that's attached.
While these channels are restored immediately, Spectrum TV Select Plus subscribers are going to be given ESPN+ for free, and in the coming months, those who purchase Spectrum TV Select will receive Disney+ for free as well. There are some things that are leaving. Spectrum Cable users will no longer have access to Baby TV, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Freeform, FXM, FXX, Nat Geo Wild, and Nat Geo Mundo as those were not worked into the new deal.
There has been discussion between the two platforms to crack down on password sharing between multiple accounts as well. The financials of the deal were not made public but there is knowledge that it's a multi-year distribution deal. So for now, we can breathe as some of our favorite movies, TV shows, and sports are back.