ESPN, Verizon make progress in Custom TV legal fight

Walt Disney Co's ESPN sports network and Verizon Communications Inc. have already made progress in their talks to settle a legal disagreement over a TV package. The companies even asked the Supreme Court to put the legal lawsuit over Verizon's Fios Custom TV package on hold until March 28.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, ESPN and Verizon told a New York judge that they've made "progress in their ongoing settlement negotiations" and wish to pause the legal proceedings. As a result, the sports network's lawsuit filed last April might never get past the negotiating phase again.

A court filing stated that the two companies, Walt Disney Co's ESPN sports network and Verizon Communications Inc., have sought the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan to put the legal court case over Verizon's Fios Custom TV package on hold until March 28 this year.

Reuters reported that Verizon became known with its Custom TV, which is a smaller pay-TV bundle that moved a few of the traditional base-tier channels into optional add-on packages. The channels that were transferred included the ESPN, which then sued the Verizon. But ESPN accused Verizon of breaching of contract.

"No other subscription TV service offers this level of personal control and value to consumers today," Verizon said at the time. They also added, "Although the number of TV channels the average American receives has increased by 46 percent over five years, Americans continue to view an average of 17 channels, according to Nielsen's Advertising & Audience Report."

However, just last week, Verizon claimed that it already made alterations to the Custom TV which now offers an option of one of two packages with more than 100 channels. There are even three optional genre-specific packs instead of the fewer options of 36 channels and numerous add-ons, as claimed by CHANNEL NEWSASIA.

Meanwhile, Verizon even boasted that one its packages offered is called the "Sports & more." It allegedly features 160 channels, which include ESPN. Furthermore, a spokeswoman for ESPN later on said that the network was "encouraged" of the latest add-ons created by Verizon.

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