Rural Media Group said it has renewed its carriage agreement with Mediacom Communications for its RFD-TV network, a deal that will include added distribution on Mediacom’s “expanded basic” service, beginning next month.
“Mediacom was the first landline distributor to carry our service 13 years ago in September,” said Rual Media Group founder and CEO Patrick Gottsch in a statement. “We appreciate the opportunity to grow with Mediacom and we look forward to many more years of success together."
RFD HD distribution is included in the agreement and Mediacom systems will begin rolling out the HD service beginning in January 2016. RFD-TV’s sister service, FamilyNet will get first-time distribution on Mediacom’s ”variety tier.”
“As a cable company that specializes in serving smaller markets, we are pleased expand our relationship with RFD-TV and bring more of their rural living themed content to our customers,” said Mediacom’s SVP of Field Operations Ed Pardini in a statement.
Mediacom has about 891,000 customers in 22 states and has a strong presence in rural communities in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the country. The operator and RFD-TV have a history of collaboration and in June it announced it would partner with the network to carry its new political series Rural Town Hall.
“Mediacom’s commitment to increase carriage of RFD-TV and FamilyNet will result in many beneficial opportunities to increase the value of the brand of both companies,” said Rural Media Group Head of Content Distribution Peter Clifford in a statement. “Mediacom’s current participation in RURAL TOWN HALL is a prime example of the creative partnerships we are looking for in this complex and competitive environment.”
