Disney is urging some viewers to switch to its Hulu + Live TV streaming service amid an ongoing carriage dispute that has brought on tens of millions of Spectrum cable subscribers to lose entry to channels comparable to ABC and ESPN. 

Disney is telling viewers that they will “take control” of how they watch by switching to the Hulu streaming service, in accordance to a Monday blog post. 

Disney is pushing the Hulu plan— which begins at $69.99 a month — amid a dispute over carriage charges with Spectrum’s dad or mum firm, Charter Communications. Disney-owned channels, together with ESPN, National Geographic and Freeform, went darkish for Spectrum subscribers final Thursday simply because the U.S. Open and the school soccer season kicked off. 

“This Labor Day weekend has been a frustrating one for millions of Spectrum cable subscribers,” Disney mentioned within the weblog put up. “Luckily, consumers have more choices today than ever before to immediately access the programming they want without a cable subscription.”

It added that it’s “hopeful” that negotiations will restore entry to its channels on Spectrum as shortly as doable.

Charter, a supplier of broadband and cable providers, has 14.7 million subscribers.

Spectrum-Disney negotiations

Carrier charges are paid by cable and satellite tv for pc TV operators to media firms so as to carry their networks, with disputes between cable and content material firms flaring up from time to time when the 2 sides are unable to agree on pricing.

In this case, Charter Communications accused Disney of demanding “an excessive increase” to its payment, and claimed that Disney pulled its channels “right as football season kick(ed) off.”

Negotiations usually go down to the wire, and if an settlement cannot be reached, channels typically go darkish on cable or satellite tv for pc suppliers’ lineups. 

Channels are usually restored as soon as a brand new carriage deal is struck. In a latest case, DirecTV dropped conservative television network Newsmax in January over carriage charges, then restored the channel two months later after each side reached an settlement. 

“Urgency” in discussions

Charter and Disney mentioned final week they’re nonetheless negotiating a brand new deal. However, a prolonged dispute between Charter and Disney may solely damage each firms in the long run, analysts at Bank of America Securities mentioned in a analysis word Tuesday. 

“In our view, there is a significant urgency for these negotiations, as the longer it drags out, the more customers Charter will lose and the less likely they are to come to terms with Disney,” the analysts mentioned. 

Still, Disney defended the rise it is in search of from Charter in an announcement to CBS News, saying final week that “the rates and terms we are seeking in this renewal are driven by the marketplace.” 

Charter CEO Chris Winfrey mentioned in a convention name Friday that the payment Disney desires “is not a typical carriage dispute,” including that each side are “either moving forward with a new collaborative video model, or we’re moving on.”