Verizon FiOS1, Star-Ledger/NJ.com Sign Deal for Exclusive Rights to All New Jersey State High School Sports Through 2015

NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon FiOS TV customers who are fans of high schools sports will now have access to exclusive high school sports content, thanks to an agreement between Verizon's FiOS1 and Star-Ledger/NJ.com.  The agreement makes FiOS1 the exclusive broadcast partner of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.  

FiOS1, Channel 1 on Verizon's FiOS TV, will broadcast 36 regular-season high school games – including basketball, football, lacrosse and soccer – and feature some of the top matchups between rival schools across the state.  In addition, FiOS1 has exclusive television broadcast rights to all New Jersey state high school sports playoff and championship games through the 2015 season.  

The agreement solidifies FiOS1's position of a leading provider of local high school television sports programming in New Jersey.  Featured games will air at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays on FiOS1, with replays throughout the week. Games also will be available through FiOS TV's video-on-demand service.

"This exclusive high school sports programming is another reason why FiOS1 continues to grow as a destination for FiOS TV customers to tune into for news, entertainment and sports programming," said Michelle Webb, FiOS1's director of programming.  "With our partner, Star-Ledger/NJ.com, we will be able to bring viewers unique content they won't be able to find anywhere else."

In addition to the exclusive broadcast rights to the high school sporting events, the partnership with Star-Ledger/NJ.com includes online streaming of games at NJ.com, promotional opportunities and co-branding of games. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com is New Jersey's premier multimedia news organization, reaching millions of New Jersey residents via print, online, mobile, email and tablet channels. In 2011, the Star-Ledger's newsroom was honored with a Pulitzer Prize, four New York Emmy awards and more than 30 first-place journalism awards at the state, regional and national level.

Bob Provost, director of marketing for the Star-Ledger, said: "FiOS1 has led the way in their commitment to consistent, weekly televised coverage of New Jersey's high school sports competition. We have found them to be a terrific media partner and complement to the Star-Ledger/NJ.com's statewide print and digital coverage of all 32 NJSIAA sports at over 400 high schools across the state. We look forward to taking things to the next level."

Earlier this year, FiOS1 partnered with Star-Ledger/NJ.com to air exclusively for FiOS TV customers in northern New Jersey the high school basketball title game between St. Patrick's and St. Anthony's on March 12, widely regarded as the nation's No. 1 high school basketball matchup of the year.

Steven Timko, executive director, NJSIAA, said: "We appreciate the continued FiOS1 commitment to covering NJSIAA competition. We have had many organizations approach us over the years about televising a high-profile game or several games over the course of a school year, but FiOS1 was the first TV operation to support the NJSIAA with an annual sponsorship commitment, and a multiyear one at that. With this new agreement, they are extending and expanding that support."

FiOS1 is part of FiOS TV's broad collection of programming featuring more than 540 all-digital channels including more than 130 high-definition channels and 30,000 monthly VOD titles.  FiOS TV also provides next-generation interactive services including an advanced interactive media guide; social network, news and entertainment widgets; remote DVR management via broadband, mobile phones and Flex View; and more.

For more information about FiOS1, visit www.fios1news.com.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 106 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.  

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SOURCE Verizon