Disney lands Time Warner Cable HD deal

[dkennedy]

Disney lands Time Warner Cable High Definition deal

April 5, 2007

Reuters News Service

Walt Disney Co. and Time Warner Cable Inc. reached comprehensive distribution agreements that will include the launch of new Disney high-definition channels on the No. 2 U.S. cable operator.

The two companies said on Wednesday Time Warner Cable will carry sports channels ESPN2 HD and ESPNU later this year. Some systems will also offer Disney Channel on Demand and ESPN Desportes.

Time Warner Cable, which has 13.4 million subscribers, also agreed to carry three new high-definition channels -- ABC Family HD, Disney Channel HD and ESPNEWS HD -- in 2008.

As part of the deal, the two companies extended their retransmission pact for Disney's ABC-owned broadcast television station on Time Warner Cable systems.

Retransmission discussions between cable operators and broadcasters have become strained in recent months as broadcasters started to demand that cable operators pay for the right to carry the 'free-to-air' stations.

Media companies like Disney, which owns broadcasters alongside cable channels and movie studios, typically reach agreements with operators by bartering channel carriage and advertising for retransmission of the broadcast stations.

Last November Disney hammered out a similar agreement, worth $1 billion with the U.S. No.1 cable company, Comcast Corp., after protracted discussions.

Financial terms of the agreements between Disney and Time Warner Cable were not furnished.

Disney shows will also be offered on Time Warner Cable's "Start Over" service, which lets viewers start a show from the beginning at any point during a broadcast in progress.

Disney will also provide content to Time Warner Cable's Quick Clips platform. Quick Clips are 2- to 10-minute clips of extra content relevant to certain network shows and at no additional cost to Time Warner Cable digital subscribers.

[rdf8585]

Well, ESPN2 HD has been on Time Warner in Schdy for awhile now... channel 1870. I look forward to ESPNU as well as ESPN News HD.

[Skaggs]

TIME WARNER CABLE AND THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY ANNOUNCE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS FOR CARRIAGE OF
DISNEY AND ESPN MEDIA NETWORKS' PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) announced that they have entered into comprehensive multi-year distribution agreements that will extend retransmission consent for the ABC-owned broadcast television stations carried in Time Warner Cable systems, and provide for carriage of a broad array of Disney's leading networks and services including: ABC Family, Disney Channel, ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Pay-Per-View, SOAPnet, and Toon Disney.

In addition, Time Warner Cable will launch ESPN2 HD and ESPNU later this year, and certain systems will also offer Disney Channel on Demand subscription VOD and ESPN Deportes. Three new high-definition services from Disney and ESPN Media Networks--ABC Family HD, Disney Channel HD and ESPNEWS HD-will launch in Time Warner Cable systems when they become available in 2008.

The companies have also agreed to make available certain shows from some of the networks on Time Warner Cable's Start Over platform. The Start Over functionality gives Time Warner Cable digital cable subscribers in some areas the ability to restart certain live programs, which are in progress, without any preplanning or in-home recording devices. Customers who have joined a Start Over-enabled program in progress are able to replay the program from the beginning, but cannot fast forward.

The Walt Disney Company will also provide content from certain networks to Time Warner Cable's Quick Clips platform. The Quick Clips service provides a range of short-form content that is relevant to the underlying network shows. The clips are typically 2-10 minutes in length and are intended to provide additional video for a specific program, or real-time updates to a program in progress. Both the Start Over and Quick Clips features are available to Time Warner Cable's digital cable subscribers at no additional charge.

Co-chairs of Disney Media Networks George Bodenheimer and Anne Sweeney commented on the announcement. Sweeney, president of Disney-ABC Television Group, said, "This milestone agreement combines Disney's world-renowned brands with Time Warner Cable's outstanding distribution platforms throughout the country." Bodenheimer, president of ESPN and ABC Sports, added, "Together, The Walt Disney Company and Time Warner Cable will provide leading sports, family, news and entertainment content for a fantastic and diverse consumer experience."

"This agreement will give our customers access to an even wider array of sports and high-definition programming," said Glenn Britt, President and CEO of Time Warner Cable. "It will also allow us to expand our Start Over and Quick Clips services. Start Over has proven to be one of the most attractive advanced video features we've ever offered."