Charter Communications has agreed to a new comprehensive retrans/carriage deal with NBCUniversal, according to TV Predictions, which published an image of what it says is an internal Charter memo informing employees of the pact.
Charter reps refused comment. NBCU operatives have yet to respond to FierceCable’s inquiries for confirmation.
The document posted on TV Predictions includes instructions to Charter employees to address customer inquiries. Employees are instructed to say the following: “We have reached an agreement with NBCUniversal to provide its channels to our customers. We are pleased to have reached a fair agreement and appreciate your patience."
RELATED: NBCU threatens Charter with blackout
Amid a flurry of tedious negotiations between pay-TV operators and station groups following Jan. 1 expirations of various contracts, the ongoing talks between the third-largest MVPD and one of the biggest programming conglomerates has loomed largest.
NBCU sent out threatening statements as the Jan. 1 line in the sand approached, but the two sides have been working off a short-term extension since that time.
“NBCUniversal values its partnership with Charter Spectrum, our third largest distributor,” NBCU said in a statement released Dec. 30. “Charter Spectrum has been unyielding in its demand for terms superior to those agreed to by the rest of the industry, including larger distributors. Given this position, we feel the responsibility to inform viewers that Charter Spectrum may drop NBCUniversal’s networks at the end of the year, including NBC, Telemundo, USA, Bravo and hit shows including the #1 show on TV—Sunday Night Football, WWE, the Golden Globes, This Is Us and more.”