Charter faces class action amid Disney dispute

The ongoing carriage dispute between Disney and Charter Communications has led to a "proposed class action against Charter from its subscribers," who claim they were "used as pawns in a 'clear money grab.'" A lawsuit filed on Tuesday in Florida federal court "faults Charter for allegedly declining an offer from Disney to extend negotiations," which would have "kept Disney-owned channels like the ESPN networks up for consumers in the middle of major programming events," including the U.S. Open and college football. It seeks an order that would "require Charter to cease blacking out Disney channels or provide reimbursement for those that are not being provided." The proposed class action looks to represent "all Charter customers whose access to Disney-owned networks were cut off by the blackout as well as a smaller class of Florida consumers who were charged the entirety of their bill 'despite not being allotted access to all the advertised services'" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 9/6).