Sinclair Reaches Agreement on Retransmission With AT&T

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Sinclair Broadcast Group and AT&T said they agreed on a multi-year retransmission consent agreement that avoids a blackout of Sinclair’s stations for subscribers to AT&T’s DirecTV, AT&T TV and U-verse services.

Related: Sinclair Stations Remain on AT&T MVPDs

The deal also covers carriage of of Sinclair’s Tennis Channel and Sinclair’s regional sports networks, including Marquee Sports Network, the joint venture with the Chicago Cubs launching next year.

Sinclair recently acquired the 21 Fox regional sports networks and an interest in YES Network in New York,

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Last month Sinclair warned viewers that its agreement with AT&T was expiring and that a blackout was possible. But an extension was agreed on and the two sides continued to negotiate leading up to the deal that’s been announced.

Related: Nexstar-AT&T Blackout Ends After Two Month Standoff

AT&T also recently reached retransmission agreements with CBS and Nexstar Media but in both of those cases, the deals were preceded by long blackouts.

Jon Lafayette
Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.