Verizon FiOS TV to Offer 12 Disney and ESPN Networks on Expanded Basic As Well
As Broadband Products ABC News Now, Disney Connection, ESPN360 and More
Agreement Includes Cooperative Plan to Help Curb Internet Piracy of
Disney's Copyrighted Material
NEW YORK and BURBANK, Calif. -- Verizon and The Walt Disney Company today
announced a long-term, wide-ranging programming agreement for multiple Disney
and ESPN networks and services.
Under the agreement, Verizon will carry 12 television services on Verizon
FiOS TV's expanded basic, including ABC Family, ABC News Now, Disney Channel,
ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, Toon Disney and
SOAPnet. Verizon will also be granted retransmission consent of ABC's owned
and operated television stations as part of the agreement.
Under the agreement, Verizon will carry major Disney and ESPN programming
and broadband services including:
* A Disney and ESPN broadband product portfolio including ABC News Now,
Disney Connection, ESPN360, Movies.com and a newly launched broadband
soap opera product
* ESPN Deportes, ESPN's 24-hour Spanish-language sports network, and Toon
Disney en Espanol on Verizon's Hispanic expanded basic and Hispanic
tier packages
* A VOD content portfolio offered to all digital customers including On
Demand services from ABC Family, ABC News Now, Disney Channel, ESPN,
ESPN Deportes, ESPNU, Jetix, Radio Disney TV, SOAPnet and Toon Disney
* Buena Vista Pay Television
* ESPN Pay-Per-View
Verizon and Disney also agreed to cooperate, consistent with the U.S.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act, to help curb infringement of Disney's
copyrighted works over the Internet while at the same time appropriately
safeguarding the privacy of Verizon Internet service subscribers.
Under the agreement, Verizon would forward and track notices to its
subscribers allegedly engaged in the unauthorized distribution of Disney's
copyrighted works, without identifying the subscribers to Disney, and either
provide subscriber identifying information pursuant to lawfully served
subpoenas or terminate Verizon Internet service provided to subscribers who
have infringed Disney copyrights and received multiple notices.
"This is a significant step forward in the effort toward inter-industry
cooperation in addressing the serious problem of copyright infringement over
the Internet. At the same time, Verizon continues its commitment to
protecting the privacy of Verizon subscribers and only providing identifying
information about such subscribers in response to subpoenas properly issued by
the courts," said Ivan Seidenberg, chairman and CEO of Verizon.
"At Disney we are committed to providing our content on multiple platforms
so that consumers have choice and flexibility when making their entertainment
decisions. We commend Verizon for doing its part in promoting legitimate
channels for content distribution and for its leadership in helping curb
Internet-based copyright infringement," said Robert A. Iger, president, COO
and CEO-Elect, The Walt Disney Company. "Working together to address piracy we
can help to ensure that the same content Verizon is distributing legally under
this deal will not be downloaded illegally."
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), together with its subsidiaries and
affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and
media enterprise with four business segments: media networks, parks and
resorts, studio entertainment and consumer products. Disney is a Dow 30
company, had annual revenues exceeding $30 billion in its most recent fiscal
year, and a market capitalization of nearly $48 billion as of September 20,
2005.
About Disney and ESPN Media Networks
Disney-ABC Television Group is home to all of The Walt Disney Company's
worldwide cable, satellite and broadcast entertainment properties. The Group
includes the ABC Television Network, the Disney Channel Worldwide portfolio of
kids channels, ABC Family, and SOAPNet; as well as television production and
syndication divisions Touchstone Television, Walt Disney Television Animation,
and Buena Vista Television. Disney-ABC Television Group also manages the
Company's equity interest in Lifetime Entertainment Services, A&E Television
Networks and E! Networks cable groups.
ESPN, Inc. is the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports
entertainment company featuring a portfolio of over 50 multimedia sports
assets. The company is comprised of seven domestic television networks (ESPN,
ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU, ESPN Today), ESPN and
ESPN2 HD, simulcast services, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International
(networks, syndication, radio, web sites), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The
Magazine, SportsTicker, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN Zones (sports-themed
restaurants), and other growing new businesses including ESPN360 (Broadband),
ESPN Mobile, ESPN on Demand, ESPN Interactive and ESPN PPV. Based in Bristol,
Ct., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of
The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest
in ESPN.
About Verizon Communications Inc.
With more than $71 billion in annual revenues, Verizon Communications Inc.
(NYSE: VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services.
Verizon has a diverse work force of more than 214,000 in four business units:
Domestic Telecom provides customers based in 28 states with wireline and other
telecommunications services, including broadband. Verizon Wireless owns and
operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 47.4 million
voice and data customers across the United States. Information Services
operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic commerce
services. International includes wireline and wireless operations and
investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information,
visit
http://www.verizon.com .
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