Charter Communications and Optimum have restored a regional news pact that will restore regional news channels to each other’s pay television services, the companies announced on Wednesday.
Under the agreement, Spectrum News NY1 will return to Optimum TV customers and News 12 will return to Spectrum TV customers across the New York metropolitan area in September. The companies said the arrangement will restore access to two of the region’s best-known local news brands.
The deal will also bring Spectrum News networks to Optimum TV customers in Texas and North Carolina soon. Those customers will gain access to Spectrum News’ local news, weather, breaking news and community coverage. Charter and Optimum previously carried each other’s regional news channels under a long-time arrangement that expired last year.
“Together, we’re expanding access to trusted local journalism while creating even greater value for our customers,” Mike Bair, the Executive Vice President of Spectrum Networks, said in a statement on Wednesday. “Our local news teams are deeply connected to the communities they serve, and we’re pleased to bring that reporting to even more viewers while restoring access to iconic local news brands across the New York market.”
Spectrum News and News 12 both operate around-the-clock local news networks focused on community coverage, weather, politics and breaking news. News 12 has long served parts of the New York metropolitan area with hyperlocal coverage, while Spectrum News NY1 remains closely identified with New York City news.
“This agreement reflects our continued focus on delivering the content and experiences our customers value most,” Keith Bowen, the President of News, Programming and Business Services at Optimum, said in a statement. “By expanding local news offerings and strengthening our advertising capabilities through this collaboration with Spectrum, we’re enhancing the customer experience while positioning our business for continued growth.”
The companies also reached a separate advertising agreement under which Spectrum Reach will provide advertising sales representation for Optimum’s West markets. Those markets include around 30 designated market areas across the central, southern and western United States.
The advertising arrangement will combine Optimum’s customer relationships and local market knowledge with Spectrum Reach’s advanced advertising capabilities, operational scale and multi-screen solutions. The companies said the goal is to give advertisers more efficient ways to reach audiences across television and digital platforms.
Spectrum Networks operates more than 35 local news and sports networks across Charter Communications’ footprint. In recent years, the company has launched Spectrum News Tennessee and Spectrum News Georgia, expanded Spectrum News Plus and Spectrum Noticias, introduced a mobile app and acquired New England Cable News.
Since the beginning of 2025, Spectrum News has also expanded distribution to Xfinity TV customers in California, Connecticut, Houston, Northern New Jersey, Orlando and Tampa. Spectrum said additional market expansion is planned pending the close of Charter’s transaction with Cox Communications.
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