INDIANAPOLIS -- Some Indianapolis cable subscribers could lose access to programming from the ESPN family of networks next week if the two sides can't come to an agreement on a new contract for carriage.

The network and Bright House Networks have each launched web sites in an effort to sway public opinion in their favor.

The cable system's current agreement to distribute ESPN channels to its system expires on Sept. 2, at the start of the college football season, and the network could force the cable company to take its channels down if a new deal isn't reached by that date.

Bright House has been airing announcements during breaks in ESPN programming, telling subscribers to ignore the "noise" from the network and from competitors hoping to get consumers to switch providers.

"You've probably heard rumblings that ESPN may remove its channels from our lineup," a man said in the Bright House announcement. "We can think of a few other highly-publicized channel negotiations where the same threats were made. The end result -- the channels stayed on, with no interruption for viewers."

Networks and providers typically reach agreements and/or extensions to keep the channels on, but that's not always the case.

In 2008, TV stations owned by LIN Television, including WISH, were yanked from Bright House for several days in a similar dispute.

Bright House officials said that was a rare occurrence.

“In the case of WISH, this was an extreme measure -- and unnecessary to put the viewing public in the middle -- as the deal did get done and the channel returned to the system. Most channel owners simply stay on while negotiations continue and put our mutual customers first," Kimberly Maki, corporate vice president of communications, said in statement. “Other highly publicized channel negotiations have been accompanied by the same threats -- Fox Cable Networks, Speed, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, to name a few -- but the channels stayed on with no interruption to viewers.”

Cable and satellite providers typically pay a per-subscriber fee to networks. ESPN has been involved in several disputes with providers in recent years, with providers arguing that it seeks exorbitant fees, forcing them to pass increased costs on to consumers.

The network contends that its programming is high value, and therefore, worth a higher per subscriber premium. Often the disputes also involve channel and cable package placement.

"It is in the best interests of consumers, as well as both companies, for us to successfully conclude these negotiations before the deadline to avoid interrupting service," read part of a statement on ihavechoices.com, a site run by Disney, ABC and ESPN's parent.

In some cities, the dispute also involves ABC, which owns some local stations. That is not the case in Indianapolis, because WRTV is owned by McGraw-Hill, not ABC.

"Time Warner Cable (which has the same programming deal with ESPN as Bright House) decides what to charge its customers for monthly cable service, and these rates are not part of our contract negotiations," the network said on its site. "Programming costs do not drive the rates charged by Time Warner Cable."

Bright House services a large chunk of Indianapolis.