Time Warner Cable, Disney Near ESPN Deal

Time Warner Cable and Disney are close to a new deal to keep the ESPN networks and local ABC stations on the cable provider’s service, the New York Post’s Claire Atkinson reports.

The carriage negotiations threatened to result in Time Warner Cable subscribers losing ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews and ABC stations, among other channels, if the two sides did not come to a new agreement by September 2, when the previous agreement expires.

Sports Business Daily‘s John Ourand reports that the new deal will likely include carriage of the ESPN3 broadband channel for TWC’s broadband subscribers.

The tentative agreement comes just in time to avoid the loss of some major sporting events, with the NFL season about to get under way.

Still unclear is how much of an increase in fees ESPN will be receiving. The network already receives more money per subscriber than any other channel, averaging over $4 per person per month.

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