Verizon's FiOS Custom TV service on Friday "shifted some channels that are basic-cable mainstays -- such as ESPN, Lifetime, TBS and USA Network -- to category-specific tiers like lifestyle, entertainment, news and sports," according to Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES. ESPN, which "sued Verizon last year after being excluded from a new basic-cable package, voiced its pleasure" over the changes. ESPN in a statement said, "We are encouraged by the changes that Verizon has made." Sandomir noted Custom TV "now offers 2 different plans: Essentials and Sports & More, which includes" ESPN, ESPN2 and FS1, as well as TNT, Cartoon Network and CNBC. A Verizon spokesperson said that the changes to the package "had not been made to settle the lawsuit ESPN filed in State Supreme Court in New York, but to adapt to its customers' buying patterns." ESPN "would not say if it would drop the lawsuit" (N.Y. TIMES 2/19). BLOOMBERG NEWS' Scott Moritz wrote the dual offer is a "step back for Verizon, which upset the pay-TV power balance in April when it introduced FiOS Custom TV," which "didn't include any sports programming." The offer was "aimed at customers who complained about being forced to pay for sports whether they wanted it or not" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 2/19).
