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Verizon Inks Carriage Pacts With HDNet, Gemstar-TV Guide

Oct 13, 2005  •  Post A Comment

Verizon Communications announced Thursday that it has struck carriage agreements with Gemstar-TV Guide International and HDNet to carry the two companies’ networks on Verizon’s new video service FiOS TV.

Though the deals were announced Thursday, Verizon said the actual contracts were signed ahead of FiOS’ first commercial launch, Sept. 22 in Keller, Texas. Financial terms were not disclosed.

As part of the Gemstar deal, Verizon will carry both the TV Guide Channel, the entertainment and program guide channel, and TVG Network, a live interactive horse racing network.

The deal with HDNet involves both HDNet, a channel that broadcasts entirely in high definition, and HDNet Movies, which delivers commercial-free movies in high definition.

The pacts are the latest to be announced in a series of deals that Verizon has struck in recent months as the company gets set to offer FiOS TV in more markets. Already, the company has franchise agreements in communities in Texas, Massachusetts, Florida and California.