Looking to avoid the animus that often accompanies content deals in the pay-TV industry, AT&T has signed a new long-term distribution deal with Viacom, to continue providing Viacom’s media networks to both AT&T’s U-verse TV and DIRECTV’s national subscriber base.
AT&T wasted no time in declaring itself king of the pay-TV mountain, pointing out that it got “the best” multi-platform deal in the industry.
“In recognition of AT&T’s status as the largest pay-TV provider in the world, this agreement entitles AT&T’s satellite and IPTV platforms to the best deal in the industry for Viacom’s leading portfolio of television brands,” the company said.
While it’s a touch early to say what that means, exactly, it’s safe to say the deal likely gives AT&T even broader multi-platform distribution rights than it previously held. Perhaps broad enough to include in a mobile service deployment?
Perhaps.
Stay tuned.
Jim O’Neill is Editor of Videomind and Principal Analyst at Brightcove. You can follow him on Twitter @JimONeillMedia and on LinkedIn