Cablevision’s long-term distribution deal will carry broadcast and cable networks owned by Comcast’s NBCUniversal: NBC, Telemundo, USA, Bravo, MSNBC, CNBC and NBC Sports Network. Cablevision has more than 3 million subscribers, mostly in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The deal is Cablevision’s third in recent months with a major content supplier—following CBS Disney. All the deals were reached without any blackouts, such as the recent Tribune–Cablevision feud.
According to SNL Kagan, CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and local broadcasters will take in $2.36 billion in so-called retransmission consent fees in 2012. By 2018 that figure is expected to top $6 billion.
