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Cable Technology Feature Article

January 18, 2012

Verizon FiOS Signs New Carriage Agreement with Tennis Channel

By Rajani Baburajan, TMCnet Contributor


Tennis Channel and Verizon (News - Alert) FiOS TV announced they have signed the new carriage agreement to offer tennis channel again to FiOS (News - Alert) customers.

Besides tennis’ four major Grand Slam competitions, the network has telecast rights to every tournament on the men’s and women’s professional circuits.

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer Tennis Channel to our FiOS TV customers again,” said Terry Denson, vice president of global content strategy, Verizon, in a statement. “Our customers have waited patiently for this channel to return to their TV screens, and we’re happy to have it back. This new direct carriage agreement with Tennis Channel means FiOS once again offers a daily viewing destination for tennis fans.”

Recently, Verizon offered Tennis Channel, with Grand Slam coverage of Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, French Open, the Australian Open, Davis Cup, Fed Cup, and the men’s and women’s year-end championships, to FiOS TV subscribers.

The mobile operator is offering the channel in the Texas, Florida, California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and upstate New York FiOS TV markets and will be available in all other FiOS markets by January 18. Verizon plans to more widely roll out Tennis Channel next year.

“We’re happy to be back in front of Verizon subscribers,” said Patrick Wilson, senior vice president of distribution at Tennis Channel. “We couldn’t be more pleased that Tennis Channel will be part of Verizon FiOS TV lineup and that more of their customers than ever will have the chance to watch.”

Verizon said Tennis Channel will be available to FiOS TV customers who subscribe to the FiOS TV Ultimate HD package, as well as the premium Sports Packages.

Besides Tennis Channel, Verizon’s extensive FiOS offering include more than 540 all-digital channels including more than 140 HD channels, and 35,000 monthly video-on-demand titles. 

Recently, Verizon and Samsung (News - Alert) Electronics America announced  that Samsung will be the first consumer electronics manufacturer to commercially introduce the Verizon FiOS TV App to its line of Smart TVs and Smart Blu-ray Players in 2012.

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Rajani Baburajan is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Rajani's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Jennifer Russell