FiOS is set to add ESPN 3D in 2011 /

Verizon’s FiOS will be the third distributor to offer ESPN’s fledgling “Goal Line” platform, which provides live look-ins and other coverage of college football games each Saturday. Under a new affiliation deal, “ESPN Goal Line” goes live on FiOS on Oct. 9.

The once-a-week service has been available to some Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks subscribers for about a month, coming as a result of a wide-ranging deal reached between the two carriers and Disney in September.

The Verizon-Disney deal resembles that arrangement in many ways. FiOS is set to add ESPN 3D in 2011 and launch a “TV Everywhere”-style authentication service allowing access to ESPN channels online. Also, the Disney Junior preschool network will be on FiOS when it debuts in 2012.

FiOS customers who have one of two HD packages will not pay extra for the “Goal Line” feed, which runs for about 12 hours each Saturday during the season. TWC and Bright House customers get the offering if they subscribe to a sports tier.

“Goal Line” is modeled on the “NFL RedZone” product for NFL games, which a number of operators offer. During the winter, “Goal Line” becomes “ESPN Buzzer Beater” for college basketball. (Due to local agreements, “Goal Line” will not be available in the Washington or Harrisburg, Pa. markets.)

David Preschlack, an executive vice president in affiliate sales at Disney, stated that “gone are the days of linear channel distribution only. We are tasked with helping our affiliates grow their businesses on multiple platforms.”

In addition to “Goal Line,” the Verizon deal also includes ESPN 3D, Disney Junior, mobile programming and live online streaming of several ESPN networks. Disney Junior, the 24-hour basic channel for preschool-age children, debuts in 2012 and features animated and live-action programming.

by David Goetzl

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