FiOS Customers Will Enjoy Viacom Programming Anytime, Anywhere
with Out-of-Home Viewing; Verizon and Viacom enter into ground-breaking
national wireless distribution deal
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.
Verizon
Deidre Hart, 908-559-3483
or
Viacom
Mark
Jafar, 212-846-8961
mark.jafar@viacom.com
Source: Viacom Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc.
News Provided by Acquire Media