Mike Petro
Buffalo News
Spectrum TV is providing refunds to eligible customers affected by the nearly two-week blackout of Walt Disney Co. channels, including those who live in Lincoln and other communities in Nebraska.
During the dispute, which caused the blackout of about two dozen channels under the Disney umbrella, Charter Spectrum cable was providing refunds to customers calling to complain about the missing channels.
The company intends to communicate with remaining customers affected by the blackout to quickly get them refunds, as well.
A spokesperson for Charter Spectrum cable said the company will be giving a “prorated credit for Disney content that was unavailable during the carriage dispute to eligible Spectrum TV customers who had not received a credit already.â€
The sides reached a deal that returned channels including ESPN to Spectrum’s roughly 15 million subscribers after an 11-day blackout — a dispute over how much Disney’s channels are worth and how to package them.
Charter Spectrum said it began communicating with customers the same day the deal was reached via email or text to indicate that they would receive automatic credit within 48 hours.
“We will have a strategy to make sure that we treat customers appropriately and fairly as it relates to credit,†Charter Spectrum CEO Christopher L. Winfrey said in a call with investors last week.
The blackout, which affected tens of thousands of viewers in Nebraska, caused subscribers to miss programming since Aug. 31 on the entire family of ESPN networks, as well as channels such as Freeform, FX and National Geographic. That included missing nearly all of the two-week U.S. Open tennis tournament on ESPN and the first two weekends of college football games.
The deal came the same day as the “Monday Night Football†game between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, which would have been missed by many fans across the country due to the blackout.
At the crux of the issue was companies such as Charter Spectrum cable moving content out of their linear channels and into their a la carte direct-to-consumer offerings, with fewer commercials and “permissive†password rules, as consumers move away from traditional cable and into streaming services. For Spectrum, those offerings now fall under their “Select†packages.
Top Journal Star photos for September 2023
Students raise their hands to ask questions while First Lady Suzanne Pillen (right) reads, Right This Very Minute: A Table-to-Farm Book About Food and Farming, during an after school program at Prescott Elementary School, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in Lincoln. On September 25, the Governor and First Lady proclaimed it was Agricultural Literacy Week and has been touring Nebraska schools participating in activities. Pillen led students, part of an after school Community Learning Center students, through a Nebraska Agriculture presentation.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska assistant coach Jordan Larson (left) talks with head coach John Cook speaks during a team practice on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
A farmer harvests a crop of soybeans using a combine just beneath a wind turbine, west of Fairmont on Sept. 26, 2023.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska players watch the video board as fans use their phone light to create a light show at the Devaney Sports Center, on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Nebraska's Ally Batenhorst (first right) celebrates with her teammates after scoring the first set point against Minnesota on Sunday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
The stadium lights at Memorial Stadium are reflected in the eyes of Nebraska's Janiran Bonner as he walks off the field following the game against Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Louisiana Tech's Smoke Harris is held back by Nebraska's Omar Brown while John Bullock goes flying past after missing a tackle in the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
About 25,000 fans return to watch the fourth quarter action between Louisiana Tech and Nebraska, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (top) celebrates his touchdown against Louisiana Tech with teammate Henry Lutovsky on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Nebraska's Laney Choboy dives into the crowd to make a save in the second set against Ohio State at the Devaney Sports Center, on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Wahoo's Sam Edmonds (center) celebrates his touchdown against Columbus Lakeview with teammate Barrett Lavaley during a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, in Wahoo.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Everett Elementary School fourth graders Jai'lisea Williams (from left), Ariana Neemeyer, Jaqueline Lima Mellado and Matias Mendez Hernandez look from a panel blind, Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon near Denton.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Lincoln East's Mikhale Ford (first right) celebrates with his team after scoring a 51-yard interception return touchdown during the second quarter at Seacrest Field, on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Kay McGuire (left) holds up a small handmade notebook to show Grace Cooper (right) as they volunteer their time to create breast cancer care packages at Picnic Hill Create, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, in Lincoln. Volunteers at Picnic Hill Create, a Lincoln craft store, have been meeting three nights this month to prepare care packages for people who were recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Care packages include a handmade journal/notebook, handmade card, and other care items such as mints, lotion and a bookmark.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Muriel Graham, 94, talks with pilot Scott "Scooter" DeLong as she sits in a World War II-era Boeing Stearman plane at Lincoln Airport on Wednesday as part of Dream Flights, a program that takes veterans and their spouses to tour the sky. Graham's first flight was in 1946 with her cousin, who used to fly with her near Springview where she taught at a one-room schoolhouse. "I've always wanted to be a pilot," Graham said, "Married a sailor and I was left on the ground with three naughty girls and a dog and he was flying," she said. Her husband, Marvin, served in the Navy for 26 years as a Navy aircraft mechanic onboard an aircraft carrier. Wednesday's short flight took her to downtown Lincoln overlooking Memorial Stadium as well as the Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Woman of the Year Susanne Blue, recently retired director of Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach, speaks during the Inspire ceremony at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Sept. 20, 2023.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest’s Makenna Murphy (6) and Delaney Madson (10) dance before a game against Kearney on Sept. 19, 2023, at Doris Bair Complex.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Five-year old Jack Kountze of Omaha picks an apple at Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard during the AppleJack Festival on Sunday in Nebraska City. The annual festival is expected to draw nearly 80,000 people to the area by the time it ends Sept. 24.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska's Derek Branch (left) and teammate Grant Tagge tackle Northern Illinois' Dane Pardridge in the fourth quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Nebraska’s quarterback Heinrich Haarberg (left) celebrates his touchdown with teammate Bryce Benhart during the second half of the match against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Northern Illinois' Cade Haberman (left) and George Gumbs forces Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg to fumble in the first quarter, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Nebraska's Kwinten Ives jumps as he and his teammates run out from the Northeast tunnel before the game on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska's defense walks out of the new tunnel before the game on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Norris players take the field as the sun sets in the west during the second quarter at Waverly High School, on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Waverly.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Nebraska's Haley Peterson (left) is defended by Wisconsin's Ashley Martinez in the first half Friday at Hibner Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Lincoln East's Mikhale Ford celebrates with Owen Laessig (from left) after Laessig scored a touchdown during the second quarter at Seacrest Field, on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Nebraska’s Alina Felix (26) gets under a pop-fly on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023 during an intrasquad scrimmage at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE Journal Star
Runners charge forward during the Harold Scott Invitational on Thursday at Pioneers Park.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Omaha native Adam Murphy takes a stroll hand-in-hand with Kenzie Houser (from Riverton, Kansas) on Thursday at Sunken Gardens in Lincoln. “It’s my first time here,†Murphy said. “It’s gorgeous — just a great place to be.â€
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
A bomb squad robot responds to a suspicious package at 200 S 21st, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Lincoln.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Tommy Blanton looks out the window while he sits at a booth with a drink during a Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana signature drive kickoff event at Duffy’s Tavern on Wednesday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska softball head coach Rhonda Revelle shouts instructions to her players during practice at Bowlin Stadium, on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln Northwest High School senior Jack Duval places words of encouragement on a wall to promote Suicide Prevention Month on Wednesday at the school.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Lincoln local Aaron Wilson, 50, rides his skateboard on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 at the ramps in Lincoln’s Peter Pan Park. Wilson has been skating 37 years, but is a long-time user of this particular skatepark as well. “I’ve spent at least ten years right here in this exact spot,†he says. Wilson says he considers skating his “fountain of youth.†Doesn’t matter what I did the night before—I can come here, sweat it out, and all is forgiven,†he says.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
An American flag is raised in front of the Nebraska Capitol during the Patriot Day ceremony on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023.Â
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Nebraska’s Laney Choboy (6) celebrates a point during the match against Long Beach State on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 at Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln. Nebraska was up 2-0 going into the third period.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE Journal Star
Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders leads his team on to the field before the game against Nebraska on Sept. 9, 2023, at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Lincoln-local Philip Lass, 12, looks at a set of homemade LED-illuminated polyhedra during Make Lincoln at Turbine Flats on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. The free, annual all-ages event features hands-on workshops, vendor booths and demonstrations from local creators in robotics, electronics, woodworking, textiles, painting, 3D printing, and more.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE Journal Star
Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims (7) scrambles out of the pocket as he is pursued by Colorado's Shane Cokes (99) in the second quarter on Saturday at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Colorado's Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig celebrates after Nebraska misses a field goal on Saturday at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln High's Remy Chapman (11) attempts a pass on the run under defense by Omaha Central's Ke'Von Newsome (20) at Beechner Athletic Complex in Lincoln. Omaha Central was up 35-0 going into halftime.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE Journal Star
Long-time Lincoln local Ted Hollinger, 91, sits on a bench at Holmes Lake Park on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, and looks out over the water. “The last few years since I’ve retired, I probably come out here every day,†he says. “I hate to see summer coming to an end.â€
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE Journal Star
Vehicles cross over the mostly dry Platte River on U.S. 34 near Grand Island on Friday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln East freshman Lucy Barrett (left) and senior Lucy Barrett (right) pose for a portrait Thursday at Doris Bair Softball Complex in Lincoln. Though they are not relatives, they share identical first and last names, and are close friends.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule speaks during a news conference on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Nebraska's Merritt Beason (top) spikes the ball past Creighton's Destiny Ndam-Simpson and Ann Marie Remmes during the fourth set at the Devaney Sports Center, on Wednesday in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln East's Kennedy Johnson (11) sets the ball against Lincoln North Star on Tuesday at Lincoln East. The Spartans won the match 3-0.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Katie Kelly sits in her late mother's 1960 Lotus 7 sportscar as her husband Craig Sarachene fixes a sticker at the Tire Rack Sports Car Club of America Solo National Championships at the Lincoln Airpark, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Kayson Hanika, 6, and Emerie Wayne, 4, lie together on the sand on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 at Branched Oak Lake in Lancaster County on Labor Day weekend.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast's Dallas Washington celebrates a touchdown after out running Lincoln East's Presley Hall in the third quarter at Seacrest Field, on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest running back Ashton Traudt (2) runs the ball under defense by Columbus defensive end Caden Kapels (81)Â during the Silver Hawks' game against Columbus on Friday at UBT Stadium at Lincoln Northwest. Southwest was leading 14-6 at halftime.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE Journal Star
Seward local Garin Metzger (left) drives his pontoon boat on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 at Branched Oak Lake in Lancaster County during the start of Labor Day weekend. Pictured with him is his wife Linda Metzger (center-right), and their friends Shanda Laflin (center-left) and Pam Spicher (right).
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Volleyball fans do the wave during a break in the action during the match between Omaha and Nebraska on Wednesday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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