Nexstar Media has renewed its affiliate deal with Fox Broadcasting and added an OTT master agreement to the mix.
The new deals, which cover 17 full-power and two low-power stations through the end of 2019, include specific agreements to launch on all the new internet-delivered programming services already distributing Fox programming, according to a news release. Streaming TV services that have deals with Fox include DirecTV Now, Sling TV, Hulu live TV, YouTube TV, PlayStation Vue and FuboTV.
“Fox’s programming, including highly rated sports content such as the NFL, MLB and NASCAR and scripted primetime shows including Empire and The X-Files, are popular with our viewers and our affiliation with Fox supports our goals for delivering great entertainment and information to viewers and advertisers anywhere, anytime and on any device, while creating a new revenue stream for Nexstar related to the OTT master agreement,” said Nexstar CEO Perry Sook in a statement.
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The OTT agreement with Nexstar comes after reports surfaced regarding Fox offering a 24/7 network live feed to Hulu in substitution for local Fox affiliates.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the national feed of Fox is available on Hulu’s live TV service in up to 70 markets—including Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Birmingham, Alabama—where Fox has yet to reach streaming deals with its affiliates and station groups.
The live feed is only showing up on Hulu—which Fox owns in part—but it could soon be used on similar virtual MVPDs, including AT&T’s DirecTV Now and Sony’s PlayStation Vue.
As the report pointed out, Fox is subbing in programming from its cable networks, including National Geographic, Fox Business Network and Fox News, to fill in the blocks where local station content would normally air.
For Nexstar, the deal with Fox follows a similar deal with ABC that renews the affiliate agreement and adds OTT distribution options covering DirecTV Now, Sony PlayStation Vue, YouTube TV, CenturyLink and ABC’s TV Everywhere.
For Fox, the deal with Nexstar follows a similar deal with PlayStation Vue that added local affiliates in 17 markets.