Time Warner Cable announced its first major content deal for its “Start Over” network digital-video-recorder service, signing a wide-ranging deal with NBC Universal Cable for both broadcast- and cable-network content.
The deal’s major points:
• Time Warner gets Start Over rights for select NBC, USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo and Sci Fi Channel programming that the NBCU either owns or produces. Such shows include NBC’s Las Vegas and The Office; Sci Fi drama series Battlestar Galactica; and USA’s popular skein, Monk, NBC officials said.
• Time Warner renews is carriage deal for USA, plus carriage of Universal HD, mun2 and Telemundo Puerto Rico.
• NBC will provide cable programming for Time Warner’s video-on-demand service, including NBC News’ NBC Nightly News and Meet the Press; MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews and The Abrams Report; and CNBC's Mad Money and Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo.
• The two companies also said NBC U will develop interactive opportunities for Time Warner and participate in several new technology trials.
“This multifaceted agreement with Time Warner Cable demonstrates our commitment to providing our affiliates with the services they need to drive their businesses,” NBC Universal Cable president David Zaslav said in a prepared statement.
The deal does not include video-on-demand rights to NBC U entertainment programming from such networks as USA, Sci Fi and Bravo. An NBC official would only say that those rights are part of a separate, ongoing negotiation between the two parties.
R. Thomas Umstead contributed to this story.
