Temporary Solution for U.S. Open Players Amidst Disney-Spectrum Cable Dispute

During the ongoing Disney-Spectrum cable dispute, several players participating in the U.S. Open have expressed their frustration over being unable to watch the tournament. To address this issue, ESPN has come up with a temporary solution by granting access to its internal app.

ESPN, along with other Disney-owned channels, recently went off the air on Charter Spectrum due to a failure to reach an agreement on broadcasting fees. As a result, approximately 15 million cable users lost access to the ESPN family of channels. This blackout coincided with the broadcasting of college football, the NFL, and the U.S. Open.

Notably, U.S. Open players such as Daniil Medvedev and Coco Gauff openly voiced their concerns about being unable to watch the tournament and other matches from their hotel rooms due to the blackout. Finding alternative ways to stay updated has become necessary for these players. Medvedev mentioned resorting to the internet and unofficial streaming websites, acknowledging that he had no other choice given the circumstances.

While Gauff refrained from elaborating further, she did express disappointment in not being able to watch ESPN at her hotel. Despite not being able to witness the matches firsthand, she was able to follow the scoreline.

In an effort to alleviate this predicament, ESPN has made its internal app available for these affected U.S. Open players for the time being. This temporary solution aims to enable the players to access and enjoy the tournament despite the ongoing cable dispute.

This gesture by ESPN demonstrates their commitment to providing a resolution that allows players to stay connected with the tournament they have worked hard to be a part of.

As negotiations between Disney and Charter Spectrum continue, U.S. Open players can at least take advantage of this temporary reprieve offered by ESPN.

ESPN Offers U.S. Open Players Special Access to Disney's Internal App

ESPN has recently announced that they are offering U.S. Open players special access to Disney's internal app for free. This app will allow the players to watch their opponents play right from their hotel rooms. The blackout, which began on August 31st for Spectrum cable customers, is still ongoing as of Wednesday evening.

Spectrum customers who are affected by the blackout will also miss out on other channels such as ESPN2, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNU, ABC-owned stations, Disney-branded channels, Freeform, FX, and National Geographic.

If you are interested in accessing ESPN or the Disney family of channels and don't qualify for the U.S. Open, there are still a few alternatives available to you. One option is to consider changing your cable provider, depending on availability in your area. Another option is to explore streaming platforms like YouTubeTV, FuboTV, and SlingTV, which offer the ESPN group of channels for a monthly fee ranging from $40 to $75.

Read on: Want to watch every NFL game without cable this season? Here’s how much it will cost you.

These developments come amidst rumors that Disney is planning to launch its own streaming service specifically for ESPN. However, during an August conference call, Disney CEO Bob Iger declined to comment on any potential sale of Disney assets, including ESPN.