AT&T U-verse Adds ION Networks

Adding to a lineup that already tops 300 channels, AT&T will carry three ION Media Networks channels on its U-verse TV service.

Under the agreement, AT&T will carry ION Television, ION’s flagship network, which features a broad mix of series, movies, sports and specials targeted to families and viewers of all ages.

Additionally, AT&T U-verse TV will offer ION’s recently launched 24-hour digi-nets: qubo, a bilingual, educational children’s network focused on literacy and values; and ION Life, promoting active lifestyles, personal growth and wellness.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

AT&T U-verse TV is delivered by Project Lightspeed, the company’s initiative to expand the fiber-optics network deeper into neighborhoods to deliver U-verse TV, AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet U-verse Enabled and, in the future, voice-over-Internet-protocol services.

AT&T last week said it had begun marketing U-verse TV in limited parts of Milwaukee and Racine, Wis. Later this month the telco plans to launch service in Dallas-Fort Worth and Kansas City, which would bring it to a total of 15 markets.

Through its subsidiaries, AT&T expects to reach nearly 19 million households by the end of 2008 as part of its initial deployment, using fiber-to-the-node and fiber-to-the-premises technologies.

ION Media Networks changed the name of its network from Pax TV to “i" in 2005, then renamed it ION Television last month.