Monday, October 13, 2014

Verizon FiOS and Viacom Renew Carriage Agreement

Verizon and Viacom Inc. have announced in the following press release, from Business Wire, a comprehensive renewal of their FiOS carriage agreement, under which FiOS carries 25 of Viacom's industry leading networks, including Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, VH1, Spike, TV Land and CMT, in addition to Viacom joint venture services EPIX and Aapka Colors!


Under the terms of the new agreement, Viacom joins a growing list of major programmers who have entered into ground-breaking, active user agreements with Verizon, granting national rights to distribute marquee content to Verizon Wireless customers. More details will be made available in the near future.

Additionally, Verizon FiOS customers will enjoy full access to all of Viacom's networks, live and on-demand, in and out of the home. From early 2015, Verizon will enable live, out of home viewing of all of Viacom's channels via Verizon's industry-leading FiOS Mobile app. FiOS customers can already access live feeds of most of the Viacom networks inside the home via the FiOS Mobile app. FiOS TV customers will also be able to access Viacom's authenticated TV Everywhere websites and apps and the company's complete selection of video-on-demand (VOD) programming across multiple platforms such as smartphones and tablets. Additionally, Verizon FiOS will enable dynamic ad insertion in all Viacom TV Everywhere and VOD content.

The deal also enables Verizon to launch innovative new TV packages to better match content packaging with consumer preferences.

Original Viacom Inc. and Verizon Press Release:

Verizon FiOS and Viacom Renew Carriage Agreement

FiOS Customers Will Enjoy Viacom Programming Anytime, Anywhere with Out-of-Home Viewing; Verizon and Viacom enter into ground-breaking national wireless distribution deal

October 01, 2014 04:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Verizon and Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA) today announced a comprehensive renewal of their FiOS carriage agreement, under which FiOS carries 25 of Viacom’s industry leading networks, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, VH1, Spike, TV Land and CMT, in addition to Viacom joint venture services EPIX and Aapka Colors.

Under the terms of the new agreement, Viacom joins a growing list of major programmers who have entered into ground-breaking, active user agreements with Verizon, granting national rights to distribute marquee content to Verizon Wireless customers. More details will be made available in the near future.

Additionally, Verizon FiOS customers will enjoy full access to all of Viacom’s networks, live and on-demand, in and out of the home. Early next year, Verizon will enable live, out of home viewing of all of Viacom’s channels via Verizon’s industry-leading FiOS Mobile app. FiOS customers can already access live feeds of most of the Viacom networks inside the home via the FiOS Mobile app. FiOS TV customers will also be able to access Viacom’s authenticated TV Everywhere websites and apps and the company’s complete selection of video-on-demand (VOD) programming across multiple platforms like smartphones and tablets. Additionally, Verizon FiOS will enable dynamic ad insertion in all Viacom TV Everywhere and VOD content.

The deal also enables Verizon to launch innovative new TV packages to better match content packaging with consumer preferences.

"People want to watch TV anywhere, not just in their living rooms. Disruption in the TV marketplace is happening and Verizon wants to reach agreements with content providers like Viacom that reflect that reality and give people what they want," said Ben Grad, Executive Director, Content Strategy & Acquisition, Verizon. "We are thrilled to extend our long-term distribution partnership with Viacom Media Networks, delivering some of the most recognizable and popular kids, music and entertainment programming available to our customers anytime, anywhere on a variety of platforms from TV to wireless."

"Verizon FiOS continues to be among the most innovative and consumer-focused video services on the market," said Samantha Cooper, Senior Vice President, Content Distribution, Viacom Media Networks. "We're glad to have reached an agreement with Verizon that covers the full spectrum of viewing options for their customers across platforms, including wireless, and extends our long-standing and productive partnership."

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with 104.6 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries. A Dow 30 company with more than $120 billion in 2013 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 177,800. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

About Viacom

Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling television programs, motion pictures, short-form video, apps, games, consumer products, social media and other entertainment content for audiences in more than 160 countries and territories. Viacom's media networks, including MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick at Nite, Comedy Central, TV Land, SPIKE, Channel 5 (UK), Tr3s, Paramount Channel and VIVA, reach approximately 700 million television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures, America's oldest film studio, is a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.

For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/viacom.

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