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Time Warner-NBC cable deal
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May 17, 2000: 1:25 p.m. ET
Accord keeps Peacock Network programs on cable systems through 2008
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Time Warner Cable -- fresh from the dispute with ABC that pulled the television network from its cable systems -- Wednesday announced a retransmission agreement with NBC that will keep its networks' programs on Time Warner's systems through 2008.
The announced agreement guarantees access to both NBC's analog and digital signals, as well as to cable networks CNBC and MSNBC. It comes two weeks after Time Warner Cable pulled ABC from its system for 39 hours amid bitter, extended negotiations with ABC's parent, Walt Disney Co. (DIS: Research, Estimates).
Under the deal, Time Warner Cable subscribers will receive special extended coverage of the Olympic Games, starting with the competition later this year in Australia, for which NBC -- owned by General Electric Co. (GE: Research, Estimates) -- holds exclusive U.S. rights.
 The new agreement also ensures consumers will have access to the digital technology features, including high-definition television (HDTV).
A July 15 deadline looms for ABC and Time Warner, with the two sides still facing tough issues -- including Disney's wishes to add channels to Time Warner's systems, and the cost of the deal.
A Time Warner Cable spokesman said the company was "making good progress" in its discussion with ABC.
The NBC deal leaves ABC as the only major network with which Time Warner Cable does not have an agreement. In 1998, Time Warner inked an agreement with CBS that runs through 2003, and signed a deal with Fox Entertainment Group's (FOX: Research, Estimates) Fox network last December that lasts until 2005.
Time Warner Cable is a unit of entertainment conglomerate Time Warner Inc. (TWX: Research, Estimates), the parent of CNNfn.
Shares of Time Warner, whose merger with America Online is pending, fell 2-3/8 Wednesday afternoon to 83-5/8. GE shares slipped 13/16 to 53-7/16. 
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