ESPN isn’t happy with Verizon’s newest cable TV offering.
The sports giant filed a lawsuit on Monday against Verizon, claiming that the telecom company is breaching a contract by allowing customers to purchase flexible cable TV services.
Verizon’s new FiOS TV packages let users add on small “channel packs” that are grouped by themes like “sports,” “lifestyle,” and “kids,”on top of a base set that starts at $55.
ESPN said that the new deal violates its existing distribution deal with Verizon, claiming that the contract prohibits Verizon from putting ESPN channels into a separate sports bundle. ESPN already expressed its concern when Verizon announced the new packages last week.
Companies like 21st Century Fox and Comcast’s NBCUniversal arm also say the new FiOS packages are not allowed under current agreements.