19 Jun Verizon Fios To Add Weather Channel To Lineup
VARIETY:
The Weather Channel cabler will return to the lineup of Verizon Fios next week after a four-year absence.
Weather Channel, now owned by Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios, was dropped by Verizon Fios in March 2015. Weather Channel had been a staple of the cable TV bundle since its launch in 1982, but in recent years the channel has faced carriage losses as viewers turn to digital sources for instantaneous weather reports.
Weather Channel has also faced pressure on its distribution base as MVPDs look to assemble smaller channel bundles rather than the broad menu that has historically defined cable TV service. Verizon Fios like other MVPDs has struggled with subscriber defections. At the end of 2018 Fios counted about 4.5 million domestic subscribers.
“We are happy to bring Fios TV customers another trusted resource for weather information with the addition of The Weather Channel to our Fios lineup,” said Erin McPherson, Verizon’s Head of Content Strategy, Acquisitions and Programming. “Our customers are increasingly impacted by severe weather, and The Weather Channel will be a welcomed addition for our viewers.”
Weather Channel was cut by Fios in favor of the rival AccuWeather Channel. Weather Channel was acquired by Entertainment Studios early last year. The new deal also includes carriage renewals for Entertainment Studios’ eight other TV channels, which include Comedy.TV, Pets.TV and Cars.TV.
Weather Channel will be back on Fios’ linear lineup as of June 24. It will be available via the Fios app later this fall.
“I am very proud to extend our partnership with Verizon by adding the Weather Channel to the Fios TV channel lineup, as well as the renewal of the portfolio of Entertainment Studios television networks,” Allen said.
By Cynthia Littleton
DEADLINE:
The Weather Channel has returned to Verizon FiOS after a four-year absence, ending one of the most protracted carriage disputes of the decade.
Beginning June 24, the network will be available to customers on channel 611 and this fall via the Fios streaming app. Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studiosbought the Weather Channel in 2018 and inherited the dispute, which seemed unresolvable for much of its duration. As the TV bundle has frayed, programmers and distributors have had more frequent carriage disputes that often result in blackouts of networks.
The Weather Channel in particular has been squeezed in the pay-TV world as consumers increasingly have looked to digital platforms rather than linear TV. Allen’s deal to acquired Weather for a reported $300 million did not include its mobile app.
“We are happy to bring Fios TV customers another trusted resource for weather information with the addition of The Weather Channel to our Fios lineup,” said Erin McPherson, Verizon’s Head of Content Strategy, Acquisitions and Programming. “Our customers are increasingly impacted by severe weather, and The Weather Channel will be a welcomed addition for our viewers.”
Allen noted the 37-year history of the channel and noted its frequently high scores for its coverage of weather-related news. “I am very proud to extend our partnership with Verizon by adding The Weather Channel, to the Fios TV channel lineup, as well as the renewal of the portfolio of Entertainment Studios Television networks,” he said.
By Dade Hayes
CABLEFAX:
After more than four years, Verizon Fios customers will be able to watch The Weather Channel again. The net will return to Verizon’s lineup beginning June 24.
“We are happy to bring Fios TV customers another trusted resource for weather information with the addition of The Weather Channel to our Fios lineup,” Erin McPherson, Verizon’s Head of Content Strategy, Acquisitions and Programming, said in a statement. “Our customers are increasingly impacted by severe weather, and The Weather Channel will be a welcomed addition for our viewers,” she added.
Verizon dropped Weather Channel in March of 2015, picking up AccuWeather instead. AccuWeather will continue to be carried by Fios. Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios bought Weather Channel last year, which sparked speculation that the two would reach an agreement. Verizon was the first to launch Entertainment Studio’s HD networks. “They turned on six networks in a single day. We made history—then they launched our seventh network Justice Central,” which is now in 40mln homes, Allen told Cablefax last year. “They are the first ones I want to sit down with because I consider them family. They put us in business, so we’ll see. I think there’s an opportunity with new ownership to have a good, healthy discussion.”
Allen recently became an equity partner in Sinclair’s pending purchase of the 21 Fox RSNs that Disney had to sell.
By Amy Maclean
