Washington -- NFL Network has struck a long-term carriage-renewal
deal with Cox Communications' Advanced TV digital service.
The Atlanta-based MSO has also agreed to launch its NFL
RedZone premium channel to Advanced TV customers for an additional $39.99 per
football season.
The Cox deal follows last week's announcement of a masteragreement with the National Cable Television Cooperative that allows NCTC
members to strike agreements for NFL Network and NFL RedZone, which gives subscribers a look at all the scoring plays during the league's Sunday afternoon contests.
It also comes hard on the cleats of the pact that Suddenlink, a prominent NFL Network holdout, reached Aug. 23 for the rollout of the 24-hour service, as well as the launch of ad hoc scoring channel prior to the kickoff of the league's initial Sunday slate on Sept. 12.
The RedZone service offers fans live "look-ins" of all
potential scoring plays during regular Sunday-afternoon National Football
League action. (The "red zone" is the area between the 20 yard line and the
goal line on either end of a football field.)
Cox is the third-largest U.S. cable operator, serving 6.2
million homes and businesses. NFL Network has deals with four of the top five multichannel-video
providers, including Comcast, Dish Network and DirecTV. Time Warner Cable, the
No. 2 MSO, Charter Communications and Cablevision Systems are the most prominent operators not in the
fold.
Cox has carried NFL Network since 2005.
