SEC releases ridiculous statement regarding Spectrum dispute with Disney

The SEC released a statement regarding the Spectrum dispute with Disney, affecting 15 million college football viewers. I read it and rolled my eyes.

According to the SEC, college football fans affected by the Spectrum dispute with Disney can easily tune in via another television programming service. Suffice it to say that the conference’s statement is more of an insulting and unrealistic suggestion.

"“As negotiations continue between Charter Communications and Disney Entertainment, Spectrum cable customers who are seeking SEC programming on ESPN channels, including SEC Network, can easily find and sign up for ESPN channels across all other major TV streaming providers like DirecTV, Sling, Hulu, YouTubeTV and FuboTV.”"

I wonder why the SEC felt the need to comment on the Spectrum dispute. Nobody expects the conference to say anything critical of Disney; thus, the SEC is void of objectivity. Such results from the SEC’s lucrative relationship with Disney, which includes a 10-year TV rights deal beginning in 2024.

Regardless, the SEC telling viewers affected by the Spectrum dispute to ‘simply subscribe to another service’ is ridiculous. Has anyone at the SEC offices in Birmingham ever tried to cancel their cable subscription? Those with experience know it’s easier to finance a car than to call Charter Communications and cancel our cable TV service.

Subscribing to another service like YouTubeTV or FuboTV while Spectrum and Disney negotiate is an option, but at what cost? The economy sucks, and most college football fans invest $65-150 monthly in their cable bill. Can most viewers add another $60-80 monthly on an alternate TV service?

I doubt it, so the SEC’s ‘it is simple to seek our programming via alternate means’ is tone-deaf and dumb.

The TV programming war between Charter Communication, Spectrum’s parent company, and Disney is heading into its second weekend of college football action. Last weekend, millions of viewers awoke to find Disney-owned channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and the SEC Network, missing from their programming.

The impasse is an obvious move by Disney to leverage more cash from Charter Communications. Unfortunately, the ‘house of mouse’ is doing such at the expense of loyal SEC football fans.