Verizon and Turner yesterday announced a "'comprehensive long-term distribution agreement' which will provide Turner content to 5 million FiOS subscribers." The specific number of years the deal covers was not disclosed. Verizon FiOS TV customers "will continue to have access" to Turner nets including TNT, TBS, CNN and Cartoon Network "via cable TV, while gaining access on computers, tablets and handheld devices" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 10/2).
GIVEN A PASS: NBA League Pass will mark its 20th season with new features including direct access to a national game archive featuring all televised games on ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV throughout the regular season, as well as live feeds of both home and away team broadcasts for all games (NBA). CBSSPORTS.com's Matt Moore wrote, "These small adjustments matter to the hardcore fans who make up a huge percentage of the user base." They also give fans the "ability to re-watch the biggest and best games of the season, as the best matchups of high profile teams usually get snatched up by the major network providers" (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/2).
MIXED MEDIA: THE MMQB's Richard Deitsch noted with the Chargers-Raiders game on Sunday being moved to an 11:35pm ET start and shifting from CBS to NFL Network, CBS "will use its game announcers (Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts) but the production elements (such as graphics) will be handled by the NFL Network." The game "won’t have a pregame show, but halftime will be handled by NFLN" (MMQB.SI.com, 10/2).
BROOKLYN IN THE HOUSE: Barclays Center yesterday announced that five of its more than 40 college basketball games at the venue during the '13-14 season will be carried by FS1, beginning with the Dec. 1 Kentucky-Providence matchup. The slate of games also includes the Dec. 21 Michigan-Stanford game, which is part of the second annual Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational presented by adidas (Barclays Center).
