Fans on the U.S. Open suddenly can’t watch the U.S. Open.
At the least, not the ESPN broadcasts, that’s.
Within the midst of the Thursday night session, ESPN broadcasts — together with other Disney and ABC stations — went dark across Spectrum.
Since the country’s No. 2 cable TV provider services the Billie Jean King Tennis Center, meaning ESPN went out in Arthur Ashe Stadium, the media workroom and throughout the grounds.
Spectrum had run spots during ESPN’s coverage before the blackout, prodding customers to call a toll-free number and voice their concerns.
But ESPN went dark at around 8 p.m., in the course of the third-round match between top-seeded defending champ Carlos Alcaraz and Lloyd Harris, won in straight sets by Alcaraz.
The screen went black, followed by messages stating the Walt Disney Co. had “removed” its programming after demanding an “excessive” increase. The word excessive was in daring lettering.
College football kicks off this weekend and the NFL next weekend.
It stays to be seen if football will give tennis a helping hand in getting back on the air so Recent Yorkers can watch their hometown Grand Slam.
