By Ben Glickman
Customers of Charter Communications' Spectrum TV will get free access to Paramount Global's ad-supported streaming services with their cable packages under a new distribution deal.
Spectrum-parent Charter and Paramount said Thursday that the multi-year agreement also included access to Paramount's full portfolio of linear cable networks and CBS owned-and-operated broadcast stations.
Spectrum TV customers will get Paramount+ Essential and BET+ Essential, both ad-supported services, with their packages for free. Charter agreed to make Paramount's streaming offerings available for purchase to its internet-only customers.
The financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed.
The agreement follows a similar model adopted after a high-profile feud between Charter and Walt Disney Co. last year. Millions of Charter customers lost access to Disney-owned channels such as ESPN and ABC for more than a week in September.
Under its deal with Disney, Charter agreed to pay higher rates for carrying its channels and was able to provide Disney+ and ESPN+ streaming services to certain customers.
The deal with Charter comes amid a messy deal saga for Paramount. The entertainment company was in exclusive talks with Skydance over a merger last month, and the company has reportedly received a $26 billion cash offer from Sony Pictures and Apollo Global Management.
Write to Ben Glickman at ben.glickman@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
05-23-24 1757ET