Scripps Television Inks IPTV Deal With Broadstream

In the midst of sometimes higher-profile content distribution news--cable, satellite, and Internet--the next-generation content technology, IPTV, or Internet Protocol Television, continues to strike deals. Scripps Television's cable networks inked a deal with Broadstream Communications, one of the leading IPTV distributors.

The Scripps/Broadstream deal includes HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living, and Great American Country. "We want our product in as many homes as possible," said John Baird, executive vp of marketing and distribution for Scripps Networks.

IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television, which enables the delivery of programming over plain, ordinary telephone lines. Broadstream efforts are for telephone companies--chiefly thousands of small telephone systems in the United States--to distribute programming.

"They can then compete with satellite and cable providers," said Scripps' Baird. Broadstream has already made over 200 video and audio deals, with nearly every major broadcaster and programmer in the country.

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Baird says its Broadstream intends to do re-transmission deals as well, where it would pay for carriage for top TV stations. Scripps also owns 10 broadcast TV stations, as well as 21 daily newspapers.

IPTV is expected to grow at a brisk pace in the coming years. Unlike other technologies, IPTV can get to many more homes quickly. Many of the world's major telecommunications providers are exploring IPTV as a new revenue opportunity for their markets. Communications companies, like SBC and Verizon, are using IPTV to offer channels and personalized content.

While he wouldn't go into details of the deal, Baird said the Broadstream deal was similar to a cable distribution deal. That's where cable operators typically get two minutes an hour of local advertising time.

Last week Broadstream announced deals with Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movie Channel, OLN, The Tennis Channel, Bloomberg Television, and The Golf Channel.

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