Retrans Quietly Accomplished: E.W. Scripps, Time Warner Cable

Deal covers 3 million subscribers

Author:: Deborah D McAdams
Publish date:: Feb 1, 2016

CINCINATTI and NEW YORK—E.W. Scripps Co. has successfully renegotiated a multi-year retransmission consent agreement with Time Warner Cable, according to a senior broadcast industry source.

Some were Brighthouse Cable Systems, which is represented by Time Warner in retrans negotiations. The deal represents over 3 million households served by Scripps local TV stations in the following markets:

Detroit
Milwaukee
Cleveland Green Bay
Cincinnati
Nashville
Tampa
Omaha
Buffalo
San Diego
Bakersfield
Kansas City
Indianapolis
Denver

“This is yet another example of broadcasters successfully reaching a carriage agreement with no drama and no disruption of service,” the source said. “Contrary to the hysteria generated by a small group of pay TV providers who are attempting to manufacture a ‘retrans crisis,’ the fact is that the vast majority of these deals are quietly concluded with no fanfare, and no blackout.”

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A multi-year agreement was reached for the carriage of 28 Sinclair TV stations in 17 markets.

Sinclair and Time Warner hammered out a three-year retransmission consent agreement.

Under terms of the agreement, the Scripps content will be enhanced with Gotuit’s technology.

E.W. Scripps-Journal TV Station Group promo image

Journal retained the newspaper business, while E.W. Scripps gained 12 TV stations in nine markets. It also gained 35 radio stations.

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The companies said Sept. 2 that they struck a deal on broadcast rights, which returns programming from the broadcast network and its cable networks to Time Warner and Bright House Network subscribers.

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The group has also formed a technology joint venture to “better integrate wireline and wireless products and services.”

Time Warner Cable has announced a deal with Sprint and MCI to add telephony services to its digital cable television systems. Using voice over Internet technology, the cable operator said it intends to offer telephone service by the end of next year in all or most of the 27 major markets it serves.

Time Warner and Comcast have made an $18 million offer in cash and stock to purchase Adelphia Communications. Adelphia has been in bankruptcy since 2002 when its founders were accused and later convicted of defrauding shareholders. The tentative deal--presented to the judge in Adelphia's bankruptcy case