http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywoo...story.html

This would be the first big test for ESPN. Altice who merged with Suddenlink are refusing to pay ESPN's demands. Altice wants a lower price for ESPN and the other channels from the Disney company. If ESPN loses out and ESPN goes dark? They could lose millions and millions of viewers and lose even more money. It is not just New York City, but where Suddenlink are at here in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, California, West Virginia and other states. The biggest areas outside of NYC would be the town where Texas A&M is at. They are Suddenlink subscribers. SEC Network will lose eastern Texas. The Razorbacks could have many of their fans go dark in Arkansas. Oklahoma will also lose viewers as well. If no deal be made when Altice/Suddenlink plays hardballs? The other cable providers who contracts are up in renewal coming soon could play hard ball, and could pull the plug on ESPN/Disney. This could put The Longhorn, SEC and ACC Networks in trouble. If ESPN loses 10 million or more in the next few years because the price demands are too high for the cable companies? Then, ESPN would be the biggest losers when they got way too greedy.