Verizon FiOS, AMC Networks Ink Carriage Renewal

Facing contract expiration at year-end, Verizon FiOS and AMC Networks reached a carriage renewal agreement for the programmer's four channels.

The deal, financial terms of which were not disclosed, averts a service disconnect for AMC Networks’ AMC, home to The Walking Dead, cable's best-ever show among persons 18 to 49, Sundance Channel,IFC and WeTV services. AMC Networks’ old contract with Verizon FiOS was set to expire on Dec. 31.

The telco issued the following statement on Monday night: “AMC Networks has agreed to an agreement with Verizon that is both reasonable and in our FiOS TV customers’ best interests. This means that there is no risk of losing any AMC Networks channels. We’ve worked hard on behalf of our FiOS TV customers to reach an agreement with AMC. We’ll continue to fight for our customers to ensure they continue receiving all of the great programming they’ve come to expect.”

AMC Networks weighed in on the agreement on Dec. 11.“We’re pleased to continue our successful partnership with Verizon FiOS through a new, long-term agreement for AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel and We TV that recognizes the value of our networks," the programmer said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing to provide Verizon FiOS customers with some of the most-watched, popular and acclaimed programming on television.”

AMC Networks could not be reached by press time late on Dec. 11.