Verizon FiOS and MTV Networks is making select MTV programming available free online to the telco's video customers.
Beginning with such fare as Jersey Shore and Teen Mom 2, FiOS video customers will be the first to gain access to full episodes at MTV's dedicated website, www.mtv.com/tve, as well as on Verizon's FiOS TV Central website, www.verizon.com/fiostvcentral. The content will extend to recent installments and full season's worth of shows.
The amount of programming and windowing as to when this expanded level of content will be available on this platform differs from series to series, according to a spokesman for MTVN. Currently, MTVN services only proffer a select amount of content on their individual sites, he said.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the agreement also calls for other MTV Network programming from Comedy Central and Nickelodeon to be available on those sites soon, according to the parties.
Verizon customers who subscribe to FiOS TV can watch the MTV shows on their personal computers or laptops -- at home or the move - through any broadband connection. After furnishing their Verizon online user names and passwords, FiOS subs can then access the online programming at the aforementioned sites.
The pact follows FiOS's rollout last month of authenticated, streaming simulcasts of ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ad hoc college basketball scoring/highlights service ESPN Buzzer Beater.
The MTVN spokesman said the programmer is engaged in discussions for other "authenticated, TV Everywhere" platforms with other affiliates.
Jersey Shore and Teen Mom 2 aside, Verizon and MTV Networks are providing the telco's customers with online access to MTV series Teen Cribs, True Life, The Real World: New Orleans and I Used To Be Fat. MTV will make additional shows available online soon including, The Hard Times of RJ Berger,Cribs, The Real World: Las Vegas and Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory.
When Comedy Central launches online, the channel is expected to offer FiOS TV subs access to shows like The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report, Tosh.0 and Onion SportsDome. For its part, Nickelodeon will present SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, iCarly and House of Anubis, among others.
Like it did for MTV, MTVN will establish similar sites for FiOS subs to access programming from Comedy Central and Nickelodeon, according to the MTVN spokesman.
"It's clear that today's consumers want to access their video programming any time, any place, and Verizon continues to make that possible with online programming from partners like MTV Networks," said Terry Denson, vice president of content strategy and acquisition for Verizon, in a statement. "We're excited to make MTV's programming available online to our FiOS customers, and we look forward to adding more MTV Networks content in the near future."
Noted Joseph Molko, senior vice president, content distribution and marketing for MTVN: "Verizon is giving us the opportunity to enhance the experience on our websites and offer more great programming online to their FiOS TV customers. With the help of forward-thinking, consumer-focused partners like Verizon, we're excited to offer customers greater online access to shows from MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and all our brands."
