Verizon Plugs In Retirement Living TV

FiOS Customers To Receive Programming Targeting Older Viewers

By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 3/24/2008 11:45:00 AM

Retirement Living TV signed a carriage deal with Verizon Communications, which will offer the network’s programming aimed at over-55 viewers 24 hours a day to FiOS TV customers.

The network, which refers to itself as RLTV, will be available on FiOS TV channel 216 starting Monday. As part of the deal, Verizon and Retirement Living TV will be launching joint subscriber-acquisition campaigns in key Verizon markets, which will include information about the Feb. 17, 2009, digital transition.

Verizon said it surpassed 1 million FiOS TV subscribers in January. The service is available to more than 5 million homes in parts of 13 states.

"Our partnership with Verizon is a critical component of our plans to expand current distribution throughout the U.S.," Retirement Living TV vice president of affiliate relations and distribution Betsy Brightman said, in a prepared statement. "The 55-plus audience rewards companies that respect and support them and we're proud that a partner like Verizon continues to be an industry leader by working with a network that's all about this demo."

Retirement Living TV, launched in September 2006, reaches 30 million homes in North America through Comcast, Verizon, DirecTV and other operators.