AT&T And Starz Ink New Carriage Deal, ‘Power’ Still On

Just hours after the FCC signed off on the $49 billion merger of DirectV and AT&T, the latter reached a deal with the premium cabler. After some contentious and public remarks from 50 Cent and other divisions over a new agreement, Starz and AT&T late last night came to terms on a new multiyear carriage deal. “AT&T and Starz have reached an agreement to continue our long-standing relationship,” said a joint statement from both companies.

This successful return to the negotiating table and agreement, thereby ensures that millions of AT&T U-Verse subscribers will not lose access to Starz shows like 50 Cent’s Power and Outlander, among others. No specific details of the deal were disclosed by either side. However, sources tell me, as with the 2012 deal between the two this contract is multiyear and beneficial to both parties – which is obviously why the both signed on the dotted line.

After negotiations between Starz and AT&T broke down a week ago, it looked like Curtis Jackson’s series and other shows would become unavailable to millions of AT&T customers – prompting the hip-hop superstar’s July 17 online rant and accusations of racism. With last night’s deal, of course, that’s all water under the corporate bridge