Press ReleaseNovember 15, 2017
Viacom and Charter Communications Announce Renewal of Distribution Agreement
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Companies Expand Relationship to Include Original Content Co-Production and Collaboration Around Advanced Advertising
New York and Stamford, CT— Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA) and Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) today announced a multi-year renewal and expansion of their distribution relationship, as well as a new partnership for the co-production of original content, and collaboration around advanced advertising.
In connection with the renewal, Charter will provide Spectrum subscribers Viacom’s networks, including Nickelodeon, BET, MTV, Comedy Central, Spike (Paramount Network), VH1, TV Land and CMT, on the Spectrum Select tier across its systems. Additional Viacom networks will continue to be available on Spectrum Silver or Spectrum Gold tiers. Subscribers will continue to enjoy on-demand access to Viacom’s content on both set-top boxes and through both Charter’s and Viacom’s authenticated apps.
Viacom and Charter have also entered into a partnership for co-production of new original content that will exclusively premiere for subscribers on Charter’s platform in the U.S. Under the agreement, Viacom’s Paramount Television and Charter will jointly produce programming. Viacom will distribute the co-produced programming internationally, as well as in additional domestic markets, including potentially on Viacom Networks, after Charter’s premiere period.
Additionally, the companies have agreed to collaborate on the use of anonymized viewership data, on advanced advertising opportunities, and on addressing unauthorized password sharing.
Other terms of the agreements were not disclosed.
About Charter
Charter Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) is a leading broadband communications company and the second largest cable operator in the United States. Charter provides a full range of advanced broadband services, including Spectrum TV™ video entertainment programming, Spectrum Internet™ access, and Spectrum Voice™. Spectrum Business® similarly provides scalable, tailored, and cost-effective broadband communications solutions to business organizations, such as business-to-business Internet access, data networking, business telephone, video and music entertainment services, and wireless backhaul. Charter’s advertising sales and production services are sold under the Spectrum Reach™ brand. Charter’s news and sports networks are operated under the Spectrum Networks brand. More information about Charter can be found at charter.com.
About Viacom
Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling entertainment content - including television programs, motion pictures, short-form content, apps, games, consumer products, podcasts, live events and social media experiences - for audiences in more than 180 countries. Viacom's media networks, including Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Spike (to be rebranded as Paramount Network in the U.S.), VH1, TV Land, CMT, Logo, Channel 5 (UK), Telefe (Argentina), Colors (India) and Paramount Channel, reach approximately 4.3 billion cumulative television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures is a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. Paramount Television develops, finances and produces original programming for television and digital platforms.
For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/viacom
Media Contacts
Nathalie Burgos
Nathalie.Burgos@Charter.com
(203) 428-0374
Jeremy Zweig
Jeremy@Viacom.com
(212) 846-7503