The Fox television network and Time Warner Cable have announced an agreement in principle on a television programming deal that will allow signals to continue for millions of cable subscribers.

Fox had threatened to force Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks to drop the Fox broadcast signal from 14 of its TV stations and half a dozen of its cable channels as a contract expired at midnight Thursday.

But signals were extended into Friday as talks continued, allowing more than 6 million cable subscribers in New York, Los Angeles, Orlando, Fla., and other markets to watch college football bowl games and other programming.

A statement from the two companies Friday said the deal includes Bright House.