US pay-television broadcaster Tennis Channel reached a new multi-year carriage agreement with IPTV operator Verizon FiOS TV, ending a four-month blackout.
Tennis Channel is now available to FiOS TV customers who subscribe to the FiOS TV Ultimate HD package, and in Verizon’s premium sports packages. Verizon said it plans to “more widely roll out” Tennis Channel next year.
Customers of Verizon FiOS and pay-television provider Cablevision Systems lost access to Tennis Channel in September 2011 after the pay-television platforms refused a demand from the broadcaster to either pay an increased carriage fee or to move the channel to their basic packages. Cablevision told Bloomberg it has yet to reach an agreement with Tennis Channel.
Verizon’s deal was reached on the second day of the Australian Open, which is covered by the Tennis Channel. The channel also provides coverage of the three other tennis grand slams – Wimbledon, the French Open and the US Open.