Part 7/11:
So why did Disney decide to cave now? The answer lies partly in the importance of Monday Night Football for Disney and the NFL. The first game of the 2023 NFL season features the Buffalo Bills versus the New York Jets—and the key coverage area is predominantly in New York and the Northeast, where Spectrum’s reach is massive.
This geographic detail is critical. Disney, which owns ESPN, is acutely aware of the potential economic fallout if millions of viewers in this crucial market do not see the game due to the blackout. The risk of losing millions in advertising revenue and damaging its relationship with NFL advertisers was likely a decisive factor leading Disney to settle.