Batter Up, FiOS TV Customers -- MLB Network HD and 'MLB Extra Innings' Package Available in Time for Baseball Season

Batter Up, FiOS TV Customers -- MLB Network HD and 'MLB Extra Innings' Package Available in Time for Baseball Season

With FiOS TV's HD Experience, Fans Feel as Though They're Right Behind Home Plate

NEW YORK, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Baseball fans across the nation are reporting serious cases of spring fever as the 2009 Major League Baseball season draws near. Now, relief is at hand for Verizon FiOS TV subscribers, who can enjoy the best baseball viewing experiencing as Verizon adds MLB Network HD and MLB Extra Innings to its programming lineup.

MLB Network HD is a high-definition service included at no extra charge for Verizon Extreme customers who have HD set-top boxes. MLB Network in standard definition is currently available to all FiOS TV Premier, Essential and Extreme subscribers. The MLB Network features nonstop programming focused on Major League Baseball and game coverage.

MLB Extra Innings is an exciting premium-service option available to all FiOS TV subscribers. It features up to 80 live out-of-market MLB games per week. Up to 10 of those will be shown in high definition (HD) each week.

"MLB Extra innings is perfect for the Red Sox fan in Tampa, the Cardinals fan in L.A., the die-hard fantasy baseball enthusiast or anyone who just can't get enough baseball," said Shawn Strickland, vice president of video solutions for Verizon. "By providing hundreds of out-of-market games during the season, MLB Extra Innings gives our customers a chance to enjoy matchups they wouldn't otherwise be able to see locally. The MLB Extra Innings season package is on sale for $199, but FiOS TV subscribers who order the package before April 12 will get a special rate of $169.

MLB Network, which launched on FiOS TV in standard definition on Jan. 1, offers baseball fans a unique insider's perspective, with live games, original programming, highlights, game analysis, classic games, in-depth playoff and World Series coverage, and other major baseball events such as the World Baseball Classic.

"America's pastime can now truly come to life for FiOS TV subscribers with MLB Network in HD," said Strickland. "Our pure HD picture-and-sound quality gives viewers an armchair baseball experience that rivals actually being there."

MLB Network will include 26 live games throughout the season. "MLB Tonight" will provide full coverage of each night's games, from batting practice to the last out, including live look-ins and real-time stats updates. In the off-season, MLB Network provides the latest baseball-related news with "Hot Stove," the nightly live show featuring analysis of the moves that teams make in preparation for the next season.

Only Verizon delivers all-digital TV service over America's most advanced network that's all-fiber all the way to customers' homes. For customers, that means receiving 100 percent digital quality on every channel, superior picture-and-sound quality, more and more high-definition programming, and more innovative interactive features that go beyond old-fashioned cable.

FiOS TV scored highest in J.D. Power's "2008 Residential Television Service Satisfaction Study for the East Region." A leading consumer magazine gave FiOS TV the top rating in its most recent survey of television service, with top marks in all six categories it measured: channel choice, image quality, sound quality, reliability, value and support.

FiOS TV offers a broad collection of programming, with more than 500 all-digital channels and 14,000 video-on-demand (VOD) titles each month - 70 percent of which are free. Verizon's VOD library also includes more than 1,200 HD titles. FiOS TV is currently available to more than 9.2 million homes in 14 states.

For more information on FiOS TV and additional details on the MLB Extra Innings and MLB Network packages, consumers can visit www.verizon.com/fiostv or call their local Verizon sales office or 888-438-3467

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) , headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 80 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 224,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion. For more information, visit 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 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.

First Call Analyst:
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Source: Verizon

CONTACT: Deidre Mulcahy of Verizon, +1-908-559-3483,
deidre.m.mulcahy@verizon.com

Web Site: http://www.verizon.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/094251.html

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Profile: International Entertainment