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Viacom and DirecTV sign long term carriage agreement
MUMBAI: Viacom Inc and News Corp-controlled DirecTV have announced a long-term carriage agreement. This will ensure carriage for Viacom’s bouquet of channels like CBS, UPN, BET, and several MTV Networks channels, including, MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, TV Land, Comedy Central, Spike TV, CMT, Noggin, BET, MTV2, VH1 Classic, Nicktoons, and MTV Espanol, to DirecTV subscribers in the US and local carriage to DirecTV subscribers of CBS and UPN O&O broadcast stations.
The deal also provides DirecTV with the necessary rights to launch CBS’ HDTV programming on a “local into local” basis.
Effective 30 June, DirecTV began carrying Logo on channel 263 as part of its Total Choice Plus package. DirecTV also launched MTV Desi on 12 July as part of its HindiDirect programming package.
According to a media report, DirecTV shares slipped 20 cents, or 1.2 per cent, to close at $15.50, while Viacom shed four cents to $32.49. News Corp, which holds a controlling stake in DirecTV, advanced 11 cents to $17.53.
