Oscars broadcast imperiled for 3.1M customers in NY cable dispute as midnight deadline looms

Midnight deadline looms in Cablevision-ABC feud

NEW YORK — With a midnight deadline looming on a threat to pull the plug on Cablevision’s 3.1 million customers in New York a day before the Academy Awards, there’s still no word on whether ABC’s parent company and the cable operator have reached a decision.

Cablevision Systems Corp. spokesman Jim Maiella (may-EL’-ah) says no update was available on negotiations between the cable operator and the Walt Disney Co. as of about 9 p.m. Saturday.

A Disney spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to a message requesting comment.

The cable operator says The Walt Disney Co. is seeking an additional $40 million a year in new fees, even though the company pays more than $200 million a year to Disney.

Disney says Cablevision charges customers $18 per month for basic broadcast signals but does not pass on any payment for ABC to Disney.