AT&T said it is giving subscribers to its pay-TV services free access to premium channels including Starz, Epix and its own HBO and Cinemax for a limited time.

The company is also launching a new ad campaign that uses the hashtag #ConnectedTogether to show how with people practicing social distancing to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, AT&T’s people and technology are helping to bring people together.

The company, one of the nation’s largest advertisers, said it is replacing its current advertising with spots that deliver its message about the importance of connectivity during times of fear and division.

The first of the new spots show families getting together via video chat and workers connecting cables and working in control rooms.

AT&T said that effective Thursday it will begin offering free premium channel content to DirecTV, U-Verse, AT&T TV and AT&T TV Now subscribers. The offer starts Thursday with Starz (only to DirecTV and U-Verse subscribers). On March 2, subscribers will get Epix through April 16. On April 16 through April 20, they’ll get HBO and Cinemax.

Premium cable network DogTV has reached a carriage deal with Dish, the network announced Thursday.

The service, which offers video content targeted to stay-at-home dogs and their owners, will be offered to Dish's satellite customers for $4.99 a month on channel 285, according to network officials.

The deal increases DogTV’s reach in the US by 30% and will help the service get in front of 70 million subscribers by the end of 2018, said the network. Part owned by Discovery Inc., DogTV is also available through DirecTV, Comcast's X-1 platform, RCN, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon FireTV, Roku, and as an iOS and Android app.

“We are thrilled to work with Dish to make this unique, creative and fun channel available to more dog lovers,” said Gilad Neumann, CEO and co-founder of DogTV, in a statement. 

Epix has named former Discovery Communications executive Courtney Menzel EVP, content distribution & partnerships, responsible for determining the premium channel’s distribution strategy on MVPD, OTT and SVOD platforms.

Menzel will lead negotiations with distribution partners and spearhead the MGM-owned network's affiliate sales and marketing functions.

Menzel, who will report to Epix EVP and general manager Monty Sarhan, has more than 20 years of media experience, most recently at Discovery, where she was senior vice president, distribution and partner marketing.

Related: Multiplatform Epix Raises Curtain

The Epix role is a bit of a homecoming for Menzel – she headed up distribution and marketing at Epix during its launch in 2009.  She also spent 14 years at Viacom in senior distribution and marketing roles and served as EVP, content distribution and partner marketing, at Current TV.

“Courtney and I worked together during Epix’s early days, and we’re so excited to have her rejoin the Epix family,” Sarhan said in a statement. “Courtney is a consummate dealmaker, and her relationships in the business are second to none. I know that she will be instrumental in helping us to build, strengthen and expand our distribution partnerships as we enter this new and exciting phase.”

Related: Wright Tapped to Head Epix Network

Added Epix president Michael Wright, “We’re pleased to have Courtney here to drive the next chapter of growth for the network.”