COMCAST AND SINCLIAR RENEW MULTI-YEAR CONTENT CARRIAGE AGREEMENT

Comcast and Sinclair Broadcast Group announced a multi-year renewal on the companies’ content carriage agreement, which includes the continuous retransmission consent of 78 Sinclair television stations in 51 major markets across Comcast’s cable television footprint, “We are pleased to continue and expand our partnership with Comcast under which we provide a broad array of valuable programming to its subscribers, including our award-winning local news and sports programming," Barry Faber, Sinclair’s President of Distribution & Network Relations, said.

Part of the agreement includes the continued distribution of the Tennis Channel, 18 Fox-branded regional sports networks, and YES Network for Xfinity TV customers. The financial terms were not disclosed. “Sports are an important part of Sinclair and we are pleased that Comcast’s greater Chicago customers can join the list of passionate fans that enjoy Sinclair’s local sports programming,” Faber said.

The deal includes Xfinity TV customers’ ability to access Marquee Sports Network, the new regional sports network jointly owned by Sinclair and The Chicago Cubs, in the Chicagoland area, just before the first home-opener of the 2020 MLB season on Friday, 24th July. “With this agreement, Xfinity TV customers can continue to enjoy access to local news and sports content on Sinclair’s owned stations and networks across platforms, including on X1, which delivers Xfinity customers an unmatched sports experience alongside on-demand and streaming entertainment,” said Rebecca Heap, Senior Vice President, Video and Entertainment, Comcast Cable.

Chicago customers with X1 can also access Marquee programming through the Xfinity Voice Remote and within Sports Zone, a destination available within the X1 guide that will give Cubs fans quick access to previews of upcoming games, live scores, in-game stats and more. “By including Marquee in the broader Sinclair agreement, we’re now able to give our customers access to Cubs baseball in time for the start of the season,” said John Crowley, Senior Vice President, Comcast Cable Greater Chicago Region.