VERIZON AND POP ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR, MULTI-PLATFORM DISTRIBUTION DEAL
Pop's Fan-Fueled Original Programming Available on Fios, Fios Mobile
NEW YORK, N.Y. and LOS ANGELES, Calif. - August 15, 2016 - Verizon (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Pop, an entertainment cable network owned by the CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), announced today a long-term carriage extension to continue distribution of Pop's fan-infused original programming to Verizon's Fios TV customers nationwide. Verizon also receives broad distribution rights to Pop programming across its digital platforms, including TV Everywhere, go90 and more.
"Pop continues to be a supportive, innovative and flexible content partner of Verizon's," said Ben Grad, executive director of content strategy and acquisition for Verizon. "We were pleased to be able to extend and expand this relationship so that our customers could engage with Pop content on Fios TV and Fios Mobile, and potentially also through other platforms within Verizon's growing distribution portfolio."
"Verizon has been a great and supportive partner since 2005," said David Mandell, COO of Pop. "We're excited that Pop's distinctive line-up of original programming will continue to be part of Verizon's content offerings, as it reinvents the MVPD landscape."
Seen on channel 694 on Verizon Fios and on the Fios Mobile app, Pop taps into fan culture with original programming that includes scripted and unscripted content. As one of the fastest growing cable networks, Pop has bolstered its program schedule with over 400 hours of original content in 2016, including: SCHITT'S CREEK (returning in January 2017), the critically acclaimed comedy series starring Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara; NIGHTCAP (premieres November 16), a satirical comedy about late night television produced by Lionsgate; WOLF CREEK (premieres October 14), a horror-based psychological thriller television event; and SING IT ON (airing now), an a cappella docu-series with executive producer John Legend.
About Verizon:
Headquartered in New York City, Verizon Communications, Inc., has a diverse workforce of nearly 162,700 and generated nearly $132 billion in 2015 revenues. Verizon operates America's most reliable wireless network, with 113.2 million retail connections nationwide. The company also provides communications and entertainment services over mobile broadband and the nation's premiere all-fiber network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers worldwide.
ABOUT POP:
Fans don't sit at the outskirts of pop culture making snarky comments. They live right smack in the middle of it, sharing, creating and connecting their passions with others. At Pop, fans finally have a destination that celebrates the fun of being a fan. Fans aren't even fans anymore - they're gladiators, tributes, human beings and blockheads. Seen in more than 80 million homes, Pop gives fans a dedicated channel that loves being a fan as much as they do. A channel that respects talent over celebrity. A channel filled with optimism, passion, humor and excitement. A channel that understands the fun doesn't stop when the credits roll... it's really just the beginning.
Pop is a joint venture of CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF). The partnership combines CBS's programming, production and marketing assets with Lionsgate's resources in motion pictures, television and digitally delivered content. Pop's ownership structure is comprised of the company with the #1 broadcast network and many of the top first-run syndication series ("Entertainment Tonight," "The Insider") and the studio that produces and distributes the blockbuster "Hunger Games," "Twilight" and "Divergent" franchises and produces such award-winning TV series as "Mad Men" and "Orange is the New Black."
|