• by Wayne Friedman , May 24, 2024

Following its groundbreaking TV network/streaming carriage deal with Walt Disney, Charter Communications has struck a similar deal with Paramount Global that includes Paramount+ branded streaming platforms.

The complete deal includes Paramount's full portfolio of linear cable networks (including CBS), CBS owned-and-operated broadcast stations and ad-supported streaming platforms Paramount+ Essential and BET+ Essential. 

Charter says Paramount+ Essential and BET+ Essential will be available at no additional cost to Charter's Spectrum TV customers.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Charter is the largest U.S. pay TV distributor, with 13.7 million video customers. 

The Charter deal follows a groundbreaking deal it previously made with Walt Disney last September -- which included Disney broadcast and cable TV networks, Disney TV stations as well as streamers Disney+ and ESPN+. 

Charter, a traditional pay TV distributor, has been expanding its bundle of linear TV networks to include premium streaming platforms, where this creates “new distribution opportunities and a glide path to a healthier video ecosystem.” 

Paramount+ streaming platforms will join such as Disney+, ESPN+ and Televisa/Univison’s ViX,  and Tennis Channel Plus.

Charter also has existing streaming deals connected for those linear TV entertainment customers who already pay for "Showtime" and "HBO" branded premium  cable networks. Streamers here include Paramount+ with Showtime and Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max, respectively.

It also has regional sports networks' direct-to-consumer (D2C) streamers' apps for Charter customers who pay for those associated linear TV regional sports networks.