Walt Disney Co. is facing a crucial test of the strength of its ESPN sports empire as a New York pay-TV provider is balking at the Burbank entertainment giant’s contract demands, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown. Altice USA is refusing to meet Disney’s demands to carry ESPN and Disney’s entertainment channels, including ABC, saying Disney is asking for too much money, particularly for ESPN, which has been struggling with subscriber losses and ratings declines. The carriage agreement — which covers Altice’s 2.6 million customer homes in the New York City suburbs — expires Saturday night. Without a new deal, millions of sports fans will be left in the lurch, unable to watch “Monday Night Football” or a pivotal New York Yankees wildcard playoff game next week. “Disney is not going to back down, and neither is Altice,” said veteran media analyst Michael Nathanson of MoffettNathanson Research. Much is riding on the negotiations, which will continue in adva...
Comments
Post a Comment