Carriage Deals Definition

A carriage deal is a contract between a content provider and a cable or satellite television operator, in which the operator agrees to carry the provider’s channels in exchange for a fee. The term can also refer to the percentage of homes that must be reached by a cable or satellite operator in order for the provider to receive payment.

In the United States, carriage deals are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC requires that all carriage deals be filed with the Commission and made available to the public.

Carriage deals have come under scrutiny in recent years, as some content providers have accused operators of ‘unfair’ or ‘discriminatory’ practices. In particular, content providers have complained that operators charge excessive fees for carriage, refuse to carry certain channels, or give preferential treatment to their own channels.