Nexstar and ABC Extend Affiliation Deal

Nexstar Media Group said today that it signed a long-term affiliation agreement with ABC Television Network covering 24 of its owned or operated stations through Dec. 31, 2022. In addition, Nexstar has reached an over-the-top master agreement with ABC for new internet-delivered programming services from DirecTV Now, Sony PlayStation Vue, YouTube TV, CenturyLink and ABC’s TV Everywhere.

Separately, ABC Television Network extended the affiliation agreements for Nexstar sidecar companies: six stations owned by Mission Broadcasting, one station owned by Shield Media and two stations owned by Vaughn Media, and these nine stations have also entered into an OTT master agreement with ABC.

Perry A. Sook, Nexstar Media Group chairman-president-CEO, said: “We are delighted to reach this long-term extension of our affiliation agreements and forge OTT digital distribution agreements with ABC in a manner that mutually recognizes the value of our respective content offerings. As Nexstar grows, we continue to raise our commitment to support the evolving needs of the viewers, businesses and local communities that we serve each day by working with our network partners and distributors to deliver our content anywhere, anytime and on any device.

“The combination of Nexstar’s unique, locally-produced news programming and content married with ABC’s marquee national content and access to these new and emerging digital distribution platforms is an unbeatable value proposition. Our new agreement with ABC supports our goals for delivering great entertainment and information to viewers and an effective multiplatform marketing solutions for local and national brands and advertisers while creating a new revenue stream for Nexstar related to the OTT master agreement.”

John Rouse, EVP of ABC affiliate relations and marketing, added: “We are very pleased to extend our affiliation with Nexstar in key markets and launch digital distribution services across their ABC-affiliated stations, while maintaining the value and integrity of our long-standing partnership.

“Nexstar has consistently delivered strong local programming and community service, which has complemented ABC’s leading network news, primetime and sports programming. Our companies share a common goal of strengthening our audiences, advertisers and revenues and our new agreement with Nexstar is important to our mutual efforts.”