TCI comes to terms with Disney, ESPN; deal may set tone for other network-operator negotiations. (Tele-Communications Inc., Walt Disney Studios, Entertainment and Sports Programming Network)(Brief Article)

Broadcasting & Cable, April, 1997 by Colman, Price

Deal may set tone for other network-operator negotiations

TCI Communications consummated crucial carriage deals last week, signing multiyear contracts with Disney Channel and ESPNEWS and extending contracts with ESPN and ESPN2.

Although the participants declined to disclose terms of the deals, all acknowledged that the agreements permit TCI to determine how the nets are tiered. As a result, system operators will have a certain autonomy in determining on which tier a net is placed. New TCI president Leo Hindery has stressed putting local programing decisions in the hands of local system managers. For TCI, that's a departure from years past, when not only carriage contracts but also tier placements were typically negotiated at the corporate level....

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