Paramount Global and Charter Communications announced that they reached a new multiyear distribution deal covering Paramount’s full portfolio of linear cable TV networks, CBS owned stations — and will for the first time include Paramount+ and BET+ streaming services. The two companies’ previous carriage pact expired April 30, and the parties temporarily extended that while they hashed out a new agreement . Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
The deal will keep CBS and cable channels including BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and Paramount Network — home to hit series “Yellowstone” — on Charter’s Spectrum TV service. The renewal also covers the premium linear TV service Paramount+ With Showtime (which confusingly has the same name as the direct-to-consumer streamer). As part of the deal, the ad-supported versions of Paramount’s Paramount+ Essential and BET+ Essential will be included at no additional cost to Charter’s Spectrum TV customers sometime later in 2024 (with no specific date provided).
Charter also will make Paramount’s direct-to-consumer services available for purchase to its broadband-only customers. The streaming component of the Paramount-Charter deal is similar to the agreement the cable operator struck last year with Disney, under which select Spectrum TV customers are able to access Disney+ and ESPN+ for no additional charge . Clinching the pact is a critical milestone for Paramount, whose TV business — while declining — generat.
