Date: 27th October 2000

Another ABC Blackout?


In what is shaping up as a battle that could result in the ABC network being yanked from cable systems serving millions of customers in six states, Comcast Cable and Walt Disney have deadlocked over some of the same issues that were at the heart a dispute between Disney and Time Warner Cable last May.

That dispute climaxed with a two-day blackout of ABC programs. A retransmission agreement between the two companies is due to expire at midnight on Sunday with both sides reportedly far apart on several issues. If an agreement is not reached, ABC could be removed from Comcast systems in Philadelphia, northern New Jersey, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toledo and Flint, MI.

Comcast chief Steve Burke was the former president of broadcasting for Disney before jumping ship to join the cable company. In an interview with today's (Friday) Wall Street Journal, Burke said, "That's two times in six months they've gotten in this kind of fight. ... I think they are sort of trying to scare the customers."

Source: Studio Briefing