Verizon Brings Customers NBC Universal's Coverage of 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games

NEW YORK, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon, in an agreement with NBC Universal, announced on Tuesday (Feb. 2) a multi-platform content offering that will make the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games available to Verizon's FiOS TV, broadband and wireless customers.

Beginning with the opening ceremony on Feb. 12, Verizon will offer subscribers access to content across multiple platforms, including an enhanced, interactive TV experience, video on demand, high-def TV, broadband and Verizon Wireless' V CAST service.  FiOS TV customers will be able to watch NBC Universal's more than 835 hours of unprecedented Winter Olympics programming, representing the most total hours – and the most live hours – ever for a Winter Olympics.  Vancouver will be the first Winter Olympics available entirely in high definition.

"Verizon's advanced fiber-optic and wireless networks will help deliver the ultimate Olympics experience to our customers this winter," said Terry Denson, vice president of content strategy and acquisition for Verizon.  "They'll see the best that Verizon and NBC Universal have to offer – on any screen, including video on demand, HD, Verizon Wireless' V CAST service and more.  And, they'll be able to follow all the action, in depth and as it happens."

Verizon subscribers can stay connected to the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games wherever they go.  At home, FiOS TV customers can watch NBC Universal's extensive television coverage on NBC, USA Network, MSNBC, CNBC and Universal HD, and take advantage of Verizon's interactive Olympics application.  Verizon broadband customers can catch up on all the action online at www.NBCOlympics.com.  In addition, Verizon FiOS Internet customers also will be able to access online content via Verizon's FiOS TV Central web site.  

Verizon Wireless customers can see athlete profiles and video on individual sports with the NBC Olympics: Vancouver 2010 channel on V CAST Video.  When the Olympics begin, V CAST Video customers can see daily updates, results and other news from Vancouver on the NBC Sports and NBC News channels on V CAST Video and on the NBC2Go channel on V CAST Mobile TV.

Verizon's Olympics experience also includes:

• Interactive TV: Customers will have access to an on-screen interactive application with real-time medal counts, athlete bios, team USA reports, Olympic news and more.  The interactive TV experience is available to all FiOS TV customers during Olympics programming on USA, MSNBC and CNBC.

• HD Coverage: For the first time, the Olympics will be available entirely in HD.  Customers will be able to see HD coverage of every event, including alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsled, cross-country, curling, figure skating, ice hockey and snowboarding.

• Video on Demand: NBC Universal is making exciting highlights and full-event rewinds available on FiOS TV VOD.  For the last month, Verizon FiOS TV customers have been able to enjoy more than 20 five- to seven-minute highlight clips – in SD and HD – including trivia, a countdown to Vancouver and an exploration of Canada's Olympic park in Calgary.  During the games, NBCU will offer more than 100 highlight clips – approximately 15 per day – in addition to up to five full-length daily event replays.  More than 30 percent of this will be available from NBCU in HD.

• Online: Verizon's FiOS Internet and High Speed Internet customers will have access to more than 400 hours of live event competition and more than 1,000 hours of on-demand access to full-event replays from Vancouver, as well as extensive highlights such as event recaps, best-of montages, commentator analysis and athlete-specific clips.

The 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games will run for 17 days and nights, covering every sport, medal, champion and riveting moment.  For more information, visit www.nbcolympics.com.

For the latest news, updates and information about FiOS, visit www.verizon.com/newscenter and http://www.verizon.com/athomeblog.   For more information about Verizon Wireless, go to www.verizonwireless.com, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store or call 1-800-2 JOIN IN.  

About NBC Olympics

NBC, America's Olympic Network, has broadcast 11 Olympic Games, the most Olympics broadcast by any network. NBC surpassed ABC's 10 Olympics with the 2008 Beijing Games, the most watched event in U.S. television history with 215 million viewers. Vancouver will be NBC's 12th Olympics.

The 2010 Vancouver Games mark the sixth of an unprecedented seven consecutive Olympic broadcasts by NBC Sports, which began with the 2000 Sydney Games and continues through the 2012 London Games.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 91 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of approximately 222,900 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon