beIN SPORTS Dropped from Fios

Just a few days after being removed from Comcast Xfinity systems in a carriage dispute, beIN SPORTS has been taken off the Verizon Fios lineup.

In a statement, Antonio Briceño, deputy managing director for the U.S. and Canada, said the sports broadcaster “learned late last night that despite its offer to extend its contract with Verizon on the same rates and terms, Verizon chose to abruptly cease negotiations and drop the beIN SPORTS channels from its platform. Verizon falsely claims that beIN sought ‘significant’ rate increases. In fact, beIN offered to continue under the same modest fee increase structure it established when it launched in 2012. Verizon, conversely, sought to re-package beIN to higher more expensive tiers where customers have to pay more for the content they love. beIN will not allow Verizon to use its content in this manner and will continue its fight to achieve carriage in lower-priced tiers on behalf of consumers and content partners.”

Earlier this week, beIN Sports announced that Comcast Xfinity had removed the channel. “We are deeply disappointed that despite our best efforts over the last year to resolve the situation, millions of Comcast Xfinity subscribers have lost access to the content they love,” Briceño said. “We are happy to extend existing terms while we continue to negotiate, but unfortunately Comcast would rather continue to charge the same while taking away valuable and loved content from customers.”

beIN SPORTS says it filed a complaint against Comcast four months ago “due to violating program carriage rules and the non-discrimination condition attached with the FCC’s approval of its purchase of NBCUniversal. The network took legal action to ensure beIN SPORTS content is made available to the largest possible audience of fans, in line with the position of other major sports networks. beIN has expressed concern that this action is in retaliation for exercising its right to file with the FCC.”