Verizon To Offer German Networks on FiOS

Verizon’s FiOS TV is launching two German networks, Deutsche Welle and ProSiebenSat.1 Welt, officials said Thursday.

The two channels have launched on FiOS TV in Maryland, Virginia and southeastern Pennsylvania and will join Verizon’s other FiOS TV markets soon. They are top general entertainment networks from Germany and will be sold together in a package for $14.99 a month.

Deutsche Welle, or DW-TV offers the latest news from Europe as well as in-depth reports on cultural trends, sports, business and politics. Due to its bilingual programming in German and English, viewers with a connection to or an interest in Germany are provided with unique insights into how the country works and what the people think about world issues.

ProSiebenSat.1 Welt is the international German language channel of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group, airing marquee programs from Sat.1, ProSieben, kabel eins and N24. It offers current news from Germany, produced twice a day at the Berlin studio of N24, especially for the United States.

ProSiebenSat.1 Welt also presents feature films, series, comedies, magazine shows and variety shows, and weekly live coverage of two top Bundesliga soccer games.

“The launch of this high-quality, general entertainment programming from Germany underscores Verizon’s commitment to become the categorical leader in multicultural content,” Terry Denson, vice president of FiOS TV content and programming, said in a prepared statement. “The addition of both Deutsche Welle and ProSiebenSat.1 Welt supports our efforts to reach underserved audiences in all FiOS TV markets.”

The two German networks are distributed by International Networks.

“With such a diverse German American population throughout the United States, we applaud Verizon for their leadership in providing programming options to best serve these audiences,” Michael Scott, vice president of affiliate sales and marketing at International Networks, said in a prepared statement.