Paramount Global and Charter Communications announced that they have reached a new multiyear distribution deal covering Paramount’s full portfolio of linear cable TV networks, CBS owned stations — and Paramount+ and BET+ streaming services.
The two companies’ previous carriage pact expired April 30, and they temporarily extended that while they hashed out a new agreement.
Financial terms weren’t disclosed. The deal will keep CBS and cable channels including BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and Paramount Network — home to hit series “Yellowstone” on Charter’s Spectrum TV service, and also covers the premium linear TV service Paramount+ With Showtime (which confusingly has the same name as the direct-to-consumer streamer).
As part of the deal, the ad-supported versions of Paramount’s Paramount+ Essential and BET+ Essential will be included at no additional cost to Charter’s Spectrum TV customers. Charter also will make Paramount’s direct-to-consumer products available for purchase to its broadband-only customers.
The streaming piece of the Paramount-Charter deal is similar to the agreement the cable opearator
“From the outset, Paramount has embraced Charter’s goal of evolving the video distribution model, and we have appreciated their willingness to collaborate on a solution that benefits our mutual customers and the video industry as a whole,” said Tom Montemagno, Executive Vice President, Programming Acquisition for Charter, which operates the Spectrum brand of video and connectivity services.
“We are very pleased to renew and expand our long-standing partnership with Charter to provide continued access to Paramount’s leading portfolio of broadcast, entertainment, news and sports brands,” said Ray Hopkins, President of U.S. Networks Distribution at Paramount. “This innovative deal celebrates our mutual commitment to deliver flexibility, choice and value for audiences everywhere, and we look forward to bringing even more of our fan-favorite programming to Spectrum customers through our direct-to-consumer streaming services for the first time.”
Charter will continue to carry Paramount’s CBS owned-and-operated broadcast stations, along with all of Paramount’s current cable networks and Paramount+ with Showtime, in relevant tiers across all Spectrum TV Select packages, Mi Plan Latino, TV Choice and TV Stream.
Later this year, Paramount+ Essential and BET+ Essential will be made available at no additional cost to all Spectrum TV Select packages and Mi Plan Latino customers through the Xumo Stream Box or any other Paramount+ supported device, and the Paramount+ with Showtime plan will continue to be received at no cost by all of Spectrum’s Paramount+ with Showtime linear customers as well.
Spectrum customers that have Paramount+ Essential included will be offered the opportunity to upgrade to the ad-free version of Paramount+ with Showtime later this year.
