NFL Network signs deal with Cablevision

One white whale down, one to go.

The NFL Network has signed a long-term distribution agreement with Cablevision Systems Corp., leaving Time Warner Cable as the only major pay-TV distributor that isn’t carrying the sports channel.

The deal between the NFL and New York-based Cablevision puts the cable channel in over 60 million homes. Cablevision has 3 million subscribers, mostly in the New York City area. A spokesman for the cable operator said a significant number of its customers will get the channel as part of their basic package. Those that don’t will have to buy a specialty tier of sports channels to get NFL Network.

Cablevision will also offer NFL RedZone, a Sunday-afternoon-only network that shows action from live games whenever a team is on the verge of scoring.

In the upcoming NFL season, which starts next month, the NFL Network will carry 13 regular season games. It used to carry just eight games but the NFL added more games in the hopes of boosting distribution.

New York-based Time Warner Cable, which has over 10 million subscribers around the country, including 2 million in Southern California, does not appear to be close to reaching an accord with the NFL to carry the channel.

Time Warner Cable spokeswoman Maureen Huff said, “conversations are ongoing and we remain hopeful that we can reach a resolution.”

But on a conference call with reporters, NFL Media Chief Operating Officer Brian Rolapp of Time Warner Cable disputed that.

“We are not talking, regrettably,” Rolapp said.

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