U.S. telephone company Verizon Communications has inked a multi-year deal with the Public Broadcasting Service and the Association of Public Television Stations to provide public television programming over its new fiber-optic Fios TV subscription television service. In each market, Verizon will carry as many as three digital public television stations and their multicast outlets, which include the cartoon-focused PBS Kids Go, and Spanish-language station Viva TV.
“This agreement is a major step forward for public service media in our country,’ comments John Lawson, president and CEO of the Association of Public Television Stations. ‘It is the culmination of hard work by APTS, PBS and Verizon to ensure that public television’s content is available to consumers who choose to receive their television programming from Verizon. At a time when some in Congress question the important contribution that public television stations make to the communities they serve, Verizon’s commitment to public television and to delivering high-quality programming to its growing television-customer base is significant.’
PBS stations are home to a number of award-winning animated favorites including Arthur, Clifford The Big Red Dog, Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks, Dragon Tales, Bob the Builder and Franny’s Feet. Newly added toon and hybrid series include Curious George, Fetch! and It’s a Big Big World, and 2007 will see the addition of a CG-animated show titled Animalia.
Currently available in seven states, Verizon’s Fios TV service delivers more than 400 all-digital channels, including two dozen high-definition channels, as well as an extensive library of on-demand content. News of the PBS deal follows last week’s announcement that the service will carry the FUNimation Channel. The 24-hour digital anime network from Navarre Corp.’s FUNimation Ent. will be added to the FiOS TV Premier package this summer, offering some of the most popular anime brands in the U.S.
Leave a Reply