In a ‘ground-breaking’ deal, not only does Verizon renew its agreement with Viacom to show their TV content (including Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon) nationally, these channels will also be offered in FiOS’s mobile app for iOS. Early next year, you will be able to watch all of these channels from your iOS device from anywhere — you aren’t restricted to being on the same network as your cable box.
Under the current agreement, you can watch Viacom channels within the house with a Verizon subscription. Shortly, you will be able to go anywhere with your iOS devices and watch the same content, live or on-demand. Look for the shows on your iOS devices in early 2015!
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.”
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So much for the “congestion” that had Verizon begging the FCC to terminate all UL data plans…