A devastating earthquake has struck Morocco

 A devastating earthquake has struck Morocco, claiming the lives of hundreds of people and leaving thousands more injured. The earthquake, which measured 6.9 on the Richter scale, struck in the early hours of the morning, catching many residents in their sleep.

The majority of the damage was concentrated in the cities of Rabat and Casablanca, with buildings and homes collapsing and roads and bridges destroyed. The aftershocks continued for several hours, exacerbating the damage and making rescue efforts difficult.

As emergency services rushed to the scene, they were faced with scenes of chaos and devastation. Entire streets had been reduced to rubble, and survivors were left digging through the debris in search of loved ones.

The Moroccan government has declared a state of emergency and has requested international assistance to aid in the rescue and relief efforts. The Red Cross and other aid organizations have begun to mobilize, sending medical supplies, tents, and other necessities to affected areas.

As search and rescue efforts continue, it is likely that the death toll will continue to rise. The earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of natural disasters, and the importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of such events.

Our thoughts are with the people of Morocco during this difficult time, and we urge everyone to donate what they can to help support the relief efforts.

# Spectrum ESPN Blackout

  # Spectrum ESPN Blackout

ESPN channels were blacked out for Spectrum subscribers on August 31, 2023 due to a carriage dispute between Disney and Charter Communications, which owns Spectrum.

Disney was seeking higher carriage fees from Charter, while Charter did not want to pay the increased fees. As a result, Disney pulled its channels, including ESPN networks and ABC stations, from Spectrum's lineup. 

Around 5 PM Pacific time on August 31, Spectrum subscribers lost access to popular channels like ESPN, ABC, FX, Freeform, and National Geographic. This came during the first week of the U.S. Open tennis tournament and the start of college football season, angering many sports fans.

Instead of the regular programming, Spectrum subscribers saw a message apologizing for the inconvenience and blaming Disney for demanding "excessive increases" in fees. 

Disney said in a statement that it was seeking "market-based" rates and terms in the contract renewal negotiations. The company said it was "committed to reaching a mutually agreed upon resolution with Charter."

However, there was no indication when the blackout might end. Carriage disputes like this often last for a few days to a few weeks while the two sides negotiate. Disney and YouTube TV had a similar dispute in 2021 that lasted for several days.

In the meantime, millions of Spectrum subscribers will be unable to watch ESPN and other Disney-owned channels until a new carriage agreement is reached between Disney and Charter Communications.

 # Spectrum ESPN Dispute and Blackout

According to the web search results, ESPN and other Disney-owned channels went dark for Spectrum cable subscribers on August 31, 2023 due to a carriage dispute between Charter Communications (which runs Spectrum) and The Walt Disney Company.  

The dispute centered around rate increases that Disney was seeking, which Charter claimed were "excessive". Disney argued that the rates and terms they were seeking were "driven by the marketplace" and in line with deals they have with other pay TV providers.

On August 31st at 5pm PT, ESPN and 18 other Disney channels including FX, ABC stations, and National Geographic went dark for Spectrum subscribers. This meant that millions of viewers were unable to watch live sports events like the U.S. Open tennis tournament and upcoming college football games on ESPN.

Spectrum ran messages on the blacked out channels urging customers to call Disney and voice their concerns about losing access to ABC and Disney channels. Disney released a statement saying they were committed to reaching an agreement with Charter to minimize the disruption to customers.

However, Charter executives indicated that they may be "moving on" from the traditional video business model amidst carriage disputes like this one. They claimed the current video ecosystem is "broken" and proposed a "new model" to Disney that would create better alignment and choices for customers, though Disney apparently rejected that proposal.

So in summary, the Spectrum ESPN blackout appears to be part of a wider struggle between pay TV providers and content owners as the traditional cable TV bundle shrinks and economic pressures mount on both sides. The intensity of these carriage disputes has increased as they become existential battles in a changing media landscape.