Back in September, Spectrum saw Disney-owned channels go dark on its TV service. Now, according to Charter Spectrums’ parent company’s earnings, it had to give away $68 million in customer credits because of that blackout.
Spectrum says that negatively impacted their overall revenue and possibly impacted the number of Americans who have canceled Spectrum TV. Spectrum, said in its earnings that it once again lost 320,000 TV customers in the 3rd quarter of 2023. Spectrum also reported that they lost over 288,000 voice customers as many Americans turned away from traditional phone lines and TV services. Spectrum did add 63,000 internet customers during that time for both residential and business customers.
This number of TV losses was up overall from what Spectrum lost in the 3nd quarter of 2023, likely partly driven by the temporary loss of Disney-owned networks at the start of the college football season.
Part of the deal to get Disney programs back on Spectrum also included the removal of 8 Disney-owned networks. Freeform, FXM, FXX, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Baby TV, Nat Geo Wild and Net Geo Mundo won’t be returning to Spectrum as part of the cable company’s programming deal with Disney.
Spectrum remains the 2nd largest cable TV company behind Comcast by roughly 100,000 TV customers or so.