Disney|ABC Signs 160 Stations for OTT

Disney|ABC Television Group has signed more than 160 stations, including those owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, The E.W. Scripps Company, Hearst Television and TEGNA Media, for its OTT Clearinghouse initiative.

The majority of stations have now opted into one or more new internet-delivered programming services from DirecTV Now, Sony PlayStation Vue, YouTube TV and/or CenturyLink. Additionally, with the participation of affiliated stations, the ABC-owned stations and digital distribution services, ABC’s overall TV Everywhere and OTT footprint is significantly expanded with programming now live (or poised to go live) on the ABC app, MVPDs and OTT access points in 90 percent of U.S. TV households.

“We are committed to digital distribution solutions that benefit the local/national relationship and the value it brings to consumers, so this is a real win for us, our affiliates and our video partners,” said Disney Media Networks’ co-chair and Disney|ABC Television Group’s president, Ben Sherwood. “I’m extremely proud of our team’s continued leadership and hard work in creating innovative business opportunities that move both our company and the entire industry forward.”

“Consumers are demanding programming experiences that meet them whenever and wherever they are,” said John Rouse, the executive VP of affiliate relations. “Through close collaboration with our ABC Affiliate Association’s Board of Governors, we’ve been able to accelerate the pace that our affiliate stations are able to enter into this digital marketplace while maintaining the value and integrity of the overall local/national ABC programming experience. We are thrilled with the response from our affiliates and these digital distributors and look forward to working with them to roll out these services in the coming months.”

“Together, we have worked diligently to help craft a creative solution that delivers the unparalleled strength of ABC affiliates across the country directly to viewers watching their local stations on these digital platforms,“ added ABC Affiliate Board of Governors chairman Emily Barr, the president and CEO of Graham Media Group. “Local television stations are deeply embedded in their communities, and viewers rely on them for news, information and entertainment, now more than ever, anywhere on any device from TVs and desktops to tablets and mobile phones.”