Grit, Escape Networks Increase U.S. Distribution

ATLANTA: Raycom Media in the U.S. is set to carry the female-skewed Escape channel and the male-targeted Grit network, thanks to a new distribution agreement secured with Katz Broadcasting.

This marks the second distribution agreement for the recently announced channels. Univision Television Group has already committed to carrying the two networks in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami and other markets. Raycom is set to carry one or both networks in a host of other U.S. markets, bringing the coverage of Escape and Grit to 45 percent of all U.S. TV households.

Jeffrey Wolf, the chief distribution officer for Escape and Grit, said: "There is a new broadcast television landscape emerging and it resembles the origins of basic cable years ago. Distributing demo-specific networks Escape and Grit alongside the successful Bounce TV can help station groups and owners grow and prosper in this new world as consumers combine over-the-air television with over-the-top services. Raycom understands this very well and was the first station group to sign on to carry Bounce TV. We are thrilled to partner with them again on Grit and Escape."

Paul McTear, Raycom's president and CEO, added: "We believe in what Katz Broadcasting is doing in creating demo-specific networks for the broadcast digital landscape. Bounce TV has been a tremendous success in our local markets and has allowed us to better serve our communities. We anticipate that Escape and Grit will do the same."