Nellie Andreeva

at&t u-verseAT&T and Rainbow Media just announced they have reached an new carriage agreement for Rainbow’s AMC, IFC and WEtv on AT&T U-verse 16 hours after their most recent extension expired and 10 days before the fourth season premiere of Mad Men on AMC. Here is AT&T’s statement:

We’re very satisfied that we were able to reach the fair deal we wanted for our customers — one that includes the right content, across platforms, at prices that are in line with the marketplace, and that helps us with important strategic content initiatives.

Rainbow Media’s statement might shed light on a key issue in the two sides’ negotiations as it mentions the company’s Sundance Channel as a fourth channel alongside AMC, IFC and WEtv that is covered by the new agreement.

We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with AT&T for AMC, WE tv, IFC and Sundance Channel that truly recognizes the value of our networks.

AT&T had complained that Rainbow “had been trying to force the renegotiation of a contract for one of their other channels that is not yet expired,” something that AT&T initially resisted.

PREVIOUS 9AM: The midnight deadline came and went, but Rainbow Media’s AMC, IFC and WEtv stayed on AT&T U-verse systems as the two sides continue to negotiate a new carriage agreement. The two companies also went in silent mode as they try to hammer a new deal for some 2.3 million U-verse subscribers. Meanwhile, one of those subscribers emailed from Alabama to say that she had been unsuccessfully trying to get AMC and IFC but was told that those channels have never been offered on AT&T U-verse in that state. Meanwhile, there are 10 more days until the season premiere of Mad Men.

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