The National Cable TV Cooperative (NCTC) has reached a broad carriage renewal deal with The Walt Disney Company which will not only keep the entertainment conglomerate's core linear channels on NCTC program guides, but also add regional sports channels including the SEC Network, as well as TV Everywhere components.
Under the deal, the Kansas-based NCTC, which represents around 1,000 small pay-TV services across the U.S., will carry regional sports networks managed by Disney-owned ESPN, which includes the Longhorn Network.
Other ESPN assets added to NCTC member program guides as part of the renewal deal: ESPN Goal Line, ESPN Buzzer Beater and ESPN Bases Loaded.
Meanwhile, TV Everywhere-related programming assets added to NCTC portfolios include Watch ABC, Watch ABC Family, Watch Disney Channel, Watch Disney Junior, Watch Disney XD, and the entire WatchESPN suite.
"NCTC is pleased to again offer our members access to top-tier sports and family channels under our new agreement with Disney & ESPN Networks Group," said Judy Meyka, executive VP of programming, NCTC. "The addition of the SEC Network, Longhorn Network and digital platform rights helps strengthen the long-term partnership and enhances the value the agreement brings to members."
The NCTC didn't outline the terms of its Disney agreement, and it remains to be seen as to how much, if any, pushback there will be from the cooperative's constituents. In April, a number of member pay-TV operators, including Cable One rejected the NCTC's renewal deal with Viacom, for example.
For more:
- read this NCTC press release (PDF)
Related links:
NCTC members cut deal to use Rovi DTA guide technology
Viacom-NCTC programming deal rejected by community-owned operator MPW
Viacom signs NCTC carriage deal, but Cable One refuses to restore MTV Networks