The wait is over for Verizon Fios customers who subscribe to beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español. The two sports channels that feature LaLiga, Ligue 1 and the Turkish Super Lig are now back on Verizon Fios after a carriage dispute was resolved on Friday evening.
For soccer fans, the timing couldn’t be better as the new season of Ligue 1 returns to action this weekend, while the new LaLiga season is scheduled to kick off on Friday, August 17.
The agonizing 9-day blackout of beIN SPORTS on Verizon Fios was due to a disagreement between Verizon and beIN SPORTS about subscriber fees.
SEE MORE: Schedule of LaLiga games on US TV and streaming
In an e-mail to Verizon Fios customers on Friday, the message read “We are very pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with beIN Sports, which also owns beIN Sports En Espanol. .
“We want to sincerely thank you for your patience and loyalty while we worked to secure an agreement.”
While beIN SPORTS channels have returned to Verizon Fios, we’re not confident that Comcast Xfinity will reach a deal anytime soon.
“We are shocked that Comcast would mislead its customers concerning the negotiation of its carriage of beIN SPORTS programming,” said Antonio Briceño, beIN SPORTS’ Deputy Managing Director for the U.S. and Canada. “In fact, beIN offered to extend the agreement with Comcast on existing terms, and Comcast refused. Just like Comcast has refused to offer our networks in high definition or allow its customers to use beIN Connect. Unfortunately, Comcast would rather continue to exercise the chokehold it has on the pay-tv market and squeeze customers for more money by only carrying beIN in high priced tiers. beIN remains committed to delivering unparalleled sports content to the broadest audience and continuing to build fan engagement for its’ content partners.”
