MIAMI BEACH — A lot more TV viewers across the U.S. will soon be able to enjoy a “Daily Blast,” and a whole array of first-run programming from one of the nation’s biggest owners of broadcast TV stations.
TEGNA, the company known as Gannett prior to the spinoff of its newspaper business, has reached a multi-year global distribution agreement for its programming with Sony Pictures Television.
Terms of the agreement call for Sony to distribute all TEGNA owned original shows, including the recently launched Daily Blast Live, in addition to all programs under future development. This includes TEGNA’s Sister Circle, a daily talk show targeting an adult, African American TV audience, and singing competition program Sing Like A Star.
The shows will launch on TEGNA-owned stations, “with the goal of increasing their national footprint in broadcast and cable.”
Sony Pictures TV will also act as the exclusive advertising sales representative for national barter and integrations, and will retain the right to market and promote the programs in all media.
“It’s a one-of-a-kind agreement, where TEGNA and Sony Pictures Television each bring distinct strengths to the new partnership,” said TEGNA SVP/Programming Robert Sullivan. “With Daily Blast Live and other programs in our creative pipeline, together with Sony’s expertise in the three key areas of sales, development and distribution, we look forward to expanding our list of available content for TEGNA stations and beyond.”
Daily Blast Live currently airs live in every time zone each weekday in 36 TEGNA-owned markets across the U.S. — and on Facebook and YouTube. The program features content trending in real-time from television, digital and social media platforms.
In related TEGNA news, Gina Bianchini has been elected to the company’s Board of Directors.
Bianchini is the founder and CEO of Mighty Networks, a software platform for entrepreneurs and online businesses to instantly grow their own interest-based social networks.
