CBS has completed a retransmission deal for its programming with Cablevision Systems. Last January, the network announced a multiyear deal with Time Warner.
The arrangement with Cablevision affects about 3 million subscribers in the northeastern states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. It means WCBS New York and Philadelphia outlets KYW (CBS) and WPSG (a CW affiliate) will continue to be available on Cablevision systems.
The deal also covered Showtime Networks, the CBS College Sports Network and the Smithsonian Channel. Terms of the deal, including the length of the new contract, were not disclosed.
Still to be decided for CBS are negotiations with Comcast, the nation’s largest cable operator. The current deal with Comcast expires in 2012.
So far, CBS has made about 25 retransmission deals, mostly with small and misize cable operators. Reports estimate that the broadcaster has been getting about 50 cents per subscriber.
