Disney/ABC Television Announce Creation of Turnkey 'CLEARINGHOUSE' Initiative
By: Caryn Robbins Apr. 18, 2016
Disney|ABC Television Group announced today the creation of a new innovative affiliate initiative called Clearinghouse, which lays the groundwork to create turnkey opportunities for its affiliates to initiate distribution of newly developed services on TV Everywhere platforms and with over-the-top (OTT) providers. The initiative, announced by Ben Sherwood, co-chairman, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney|ABC Television Group during his keynote at the 2016 NAB Show, provides ABC affiliates the opportunity to opt into pre-negotiated agreements for digital distribution of their live, linear feeds as well as potential opportunities for local VOD distribution.
"Building on our leadership in the TV everywhere space, we've pioneered creative, three-way Clearinghouse distribution arrangements among ABC, our affiliates, and our video providers," said Sherwood. "These efficient, turnkey deals allow our affiliates to opt into partnerships that work for them, preserving the powerful local/national relationship while expediting the delivery of their signals into new consumer spaces that viewers are demanding. This is win-win. Consumers get the viewing choices they demand. And our affiliates get distribution opportunities that accelerate their involvement." ABC will roll-out the initiative to affiliates in the coming months, beginning with two opportunities. The network has formulated the technical and distribution components of deals between the ABC Owned Television Stations and DIRECTV for THE WATCH ABC TV Everywhere service and Sony Playstation Vue, and will use these as templates for the Clearinghouse offerings. Hearst Television will pilot the DIRECTV Clearinghouse affiliate opt-in across their 14 local ABC stations with the roll out of Watch ABC TV Everywhere early this summer.Videos