Verizon FiOS To Add MGM HD
Movie Channel Gets Second Launch, After DirecTV
By Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 1/23/2008 5:21:00 AM
Verizon has struck a carriage deal to offer MGM HD on its FiOS service, officials from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios said Wednesday.
MGM HD will roll out late this year across all of the Verizon FiOS TV systems including California, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia.
MGM HD launched on DirecTV in October. MGM chairman and CEO Harry Sloan’s initiative is to launch MGM-branded HD channels around the world.
The announcement was made by Douglas Lee, executive vice president of Worldwide Digital Media for MGM and Jim Packer, co-president of MGM Worldwide Television.
"The response to the MGM HD Channel, even in today’s cro
wded and challenging marketplace, has been very encouraging, especially as consumers validate our belief that HDTV owners value movies along with sports as HD’s greatest viewing proposition,” Lee said in a release. “We are one of the only services available 24/7 in full 1080i HD.”
Backed by the world’s largest modern film library, consisting of more than 4,100 film titles and winner of 209 Academy Awards, MGM HD roster includes classic MGM films as well as original programming and new content.
The channel also touts exclusive behind-scenes coverage of red-carpet events, sneak peeks at new films in production, seasonal promotions and world premieres of newly re-mastered hits from the MGM library.
