Gov. Kathy Hochul put Charter Communications on notice Friday — telling the cable company it had better issue refunds to customers who have had Disney-owned channels such as ABC and ESPN turned off during a contract dispute.
“It’s simple: If you pay your cable bill, you deserve to get the services you pay for,” said Hochul, as she ordered the state’s cable regulator to step in and make sure cable users were getting their money back over the Disney blackout.
“An ongoing corporate dispute is forcing customers to miss some of the highest-profile televised events of the year — the least these companies can do is provide a refund.”
ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels went dark at the end of August on Spectrum — leaving its 15 million customers unable to watch the US Open, football and other programming.
Disney and Charter, the number two cable subscriber in the country, have reached a stalemate in their “carriage dispute” over how much to charge for more than 25 channels and how to package them.
“It’s simple: If you pay your cable bill, you deserve to get the services you pay for,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. REUTERS
Spectrum customers will be unable to watch “Monday Night Football” without a deal. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The blackout also affected the US Open, with ESPN having the rights for the tennis tournament. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The channels went dark at the end of August. Getty ImagesRory Christian, the head of the state’s cable-regulating Department of Public Service, said his office would “work diligently” to make sure proper bill credits are being provided.
“Disney and Charter must continue negotiating in good faith to ensure affordability and consumer choice,” the governor said, adding, “I also urge Disney to continue providing its programming under the terms of the prior agreement while negotiations continue.”
