Randall Stephenson - H 2014
AP ImagesTelecom giant AT&T and Scripps Networks Interactive said Thursday that they have reached a new multiyear carriage agreement for continued distribution of Scripps channels on AT&T U-verse and DirecTV, including the upcoming DirecTV Now and DirecTV Freeview streaming services.
AT&T has said it will launch three streaming services in the fourth quarter. DirecTV Now is scheduled to offer more than 100 channels for an aggressive price, AT&T boss Randall Stephenson said Wednesday.
AT&T has positioned DirecTV Now as much more than a “skinny” pay TV bundle, such as Dish Network’s Sling TV.
“This agreement forwards the goal of Scripps Networks Interactive to make our valued content available to consumers at the time and on the device of their choosing,” Henry Ahn, president, content distribution and marketing at Scripps Networks Interactive, said in a statement. “We value our ongoing and expanding relationship with AT&T and DirecTV and look forward to working together to expand consumer choice and convenience.”
Said Dan York, chief content officer for AT&T: “Through this new, expansive agreement, our customers will be able to enjoy the entire family of Scripps Networks content virtually anytime, anywhere across all AT&T platforms. Scripps Networks’ content will deliver more value as an important part of AT&T’s new DirecTV Now and DirecTV Freeview streaming services.”
