Raycom Boss: TWC Retrans Deal "Pretty Much Done"

McTear says carriage agreement just needs a handshake; hopes TWC-Fox can agree too

By Michael Malone -- Broadcasting & Cable, 12/30/2009 6:30:36 PM

Raycom Media and Time Warner Cable have extended their retransmission consent agreement to Jan. 15, and Raycom President/CEO Paul McTear says the new deal is nearly finished. The broadcaster and the cable operator will resume talks early next week, and McTear envisions an agreement free of vitriol.

"We've always had a pretty good relationship with Time Warner Cable," says McTear. "I don't think we would've extended the deadline if we weren't confident we could [work out] a long-term deal."

 Raycom has stations in eight Time Warner Cable markets. McTear says the talks are on hold for the holiday, but should pick up again Jan. 4. "I don't think we're very far apart at all," he says. "It's pretty much done at this stage."

A Time Warner Cable spokesperson was similarly optimistic earlier today. "We expect a deal to be done by [Jan. 15]," said the spokesperson.

The Raycom boss acknowledged that Time Warner Cable has its hands full battling with News Corp. over carriage for the Fox O&Os. He said most everyone hopes that is worked out without the stations going dark for Time Warner Cable subscribers. "It won't be good for anyone of us if that blows into the new year," says McTear.