Verizon and TBS, Inc. Sign Programming Deal

Verizon and TBS, Inc. Sign Programming Deal

Verizon Fios TV to Offer Turner Broadcasting News, Entertainment and Animation Networks, Including TNT in HD, CNN en Espanol

NEW YORK, July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon today announced a programming- distribution agreement with Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) to carry TBS, TNT, CNN, Headline News, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), CNN International, CNN en Espanol and Boomerang. It is the latest in a series of content agreements that Verizon has announced.

Under the agreement, Verizon will carry the Turner Broadcasting networks on Verizon Fios TV when it launches later this year. Also included is TNT in HD, providing a broad range of dramatic programming in HDTV format, such as series, sports, movies and TNT Originals.

"We are delighted to add Turner Broadcasting to the list of major programmers for Fios TV," said Terry Denson, vice president of programming and marketing for Fios TV. "Our customers will enjoy the quality programming from Turner Broadcasting that appeals to so many different types of viewers and continues to sustain top-of-the-charts ratings with TNT, TBS and CNN."

Said Coleman Breland, executive vice president, sales and marketing, Turner Network Sales (TNS): "We are pleased to partner with Verizon to further expand their Fios programming lineup and enhance their customers' viewing experience with the addition of the Turner Broadcasting's extensive collection of top-rated content."

Verizon Fios TV will offer customers a competitive alternative to cable or satellite. In addition to the channels announced today, Fios TV will also deliver hundreds of other digital video channels, high-definition programming, video-on-demand content, music channels, an interactive programming guide and other customer-friendly features via the company's fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband network. Verizon is already constructing FTTP networks in half the states where it offers landline communications service.

Terms of the agreement with Turner Broadcasting were not disclosed.

About TBS, Inc.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.

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 212,000 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 45.5 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/.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at http://www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

Source: Verizon

CONTACT: Media contacts - Sharon Cohen-Hagar, Verizon, +1-972-718-6205, sharon.cohen-hagar@verizon.com; or Leigh Majors of Turner Network Sales, +1-404-827-3907, leigh.majors@turner.com

Web site: http://www.verizon.com/ http://www.verizon.com/news

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/618232.html

------- Profile: Ent