Carriage renewal negotiations between Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and Discovery Networks are reportedly progressing at a peaceful, productive pace, belying earlier speculation that the two sides might dig in for a protracted stalemate.
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Shark Week remains a major event for Discovery. |
According to Multichannel News, speaking to unnamed sources, the talks between the two companies are continuing with no impending sign of a blackout. The companies' current deal expires July 1.
Investors for both companies began to expect trouble earlier this year, when Discovery bumped up its annual binge-fest of shark-themed, documentary-style programming, Shark Week, from August to July 5, coinciding with the expiration of the current deal.
Sharkweek annually produces the highest ratings of the year among key demographic groups for the Discovery Channel.
Earlier, Discovery CEO David Zaslav had been one of the programming world's harshest critics of Comcast's ultimately scuttled bid to acquire Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC).
For more:
- read this Multichannel News story
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