Ad-Supported Paramount+ to Be Included in Charter's Spectrum Packages Under New Deal

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

May 23, 2024 17:57 ET (21:57 GMT)

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