Diddy’s Revolt Gets Time Warner Cable Deal

Sean (Diddy) Combs’ new network Revolt TV, has finalized a national carriage agreement with Time Warner Cable.

Revolt, expected to launch in the fall, is one of the new minority-owned networks selected for broad distribution by Comcast as part of the FCC's conditions for the MSO's acquisition of NBCUniversal. BabyFirst, Aspire and El Rey are the three other services that Comcast will roll out under the agency's condition.

The channel is aimed at urban markets and will air live music, music videos, talk show and original series. It’s also designed to be multiplatform and socially connected. Combs is founder and chairman of Revolt.

The agreement, deal terms of which were not disclosed, comes at a time when Time Warner Cable has been complaining about rising programming costs and has dropped some smaller, independent channels like Ovation and Current, which will morph into Al Jazeera America in late August.

“This is a landmark distribution deal that demonstrates Time Warner Cable’s commitment to bringing a platform for music artists and fans to their subscribers,” Combs said in a statement.  “It positions Revolt to come out of the gate strong, and we look forward to igniting the passion of initial audiences across the U.S.”

Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.