Comcast, Disney in Deal to Retain Programming

Comcast Cable Communications and Walt Disney Co. reached an agreement that ensures the cable company’s 8.2 million subscribers will not lose popular Disney-owned programming--including the ESPN sports network. Disney has sought hefty hikes in the monthly fees it charges for access to ESPN and its sister channels, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic. Disney also sought broader carriage on Comcast systems of its other cable channels, including Toon Disney, The Disney Channel and SoapNet. The media conglomerate was threatening to pull ESPN and other programming from Comcast systems on New Year’s Eve unless talks between the two companies had been concluded. Neither company would reveal details of the agreement . In six cities--New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Flint, Mich., and Toledo, Ohio--Disney also could have pulled all ABC network programming from Comcast because Disney owns the local ABC station in those markets.