Verizon adds Showtime to Fios TV roster

Verizon Communications on Tuesday announced a partnership with Showtime Networks for premium movie services.

As part of the deal, 11 channels of Showtime Networks, including Showtime and The Movie Channel, will be carried on Verizon's Fios network when it launches later this year, the companies said. Fios is Verizon's fiber-to-the-home network.

Fiber provides more bandwidth than traditional copper-wire networks, and Verizon has been planning to offer a triple-play package--including voice, video and data services--over Fios.

As part of the deal, Showtime HD and The Movie Channel HD will be available free to subscribers as part of Verizon's high-definition programming.

Verizon said Fios TV will offer an alternative to cable and satellite. Customers will be able to buy the television offering as a standalone service or bundled with voice and high-speed data offerings. Fios TV will carry several digital video channels, high-definition programming, video-on-demand content and music channels.

Verizon has already signed several deals with content providers for the new service, including one with Movielink for video on demand.