FiOS1, Verizon's Local TV Channel, Produces Live Broadcast, With George Mason Tipping Off Against Delaware in Men's Division 1 NCAA College Basketball

ARLINGTON, Va. - Verizon's FiOS1 local TV channel will produce its first live broadcast on Feb. 20 when it telecasts the Division 1 NCAA men's college basketball game between the George Mason University Patriots and the University of Delaware Blue Hens. Coverage of the game, at the Patriot Center on the campus of George Mason University, begins at 9 p.m.  FiOS1, Verizon's first local TV channel in the United States, already televises local professional and college sports.

"Verizon's FiOS1 is committed to delivering content that touches lives and shows our commitment to communities," said Michelle Webb, executive producer and general manager of FiOS1.  "We're proud to bring our customers live coverage of a critical matchup, as George Mason University and the University of Delaware battle on the court in this CAA conference rematch.  We look forward to bringing our customers more great matchups throughout the year."

B.J. Koubaroulis, sports columnist for the Washington Post, will call the game.  Craig Esherick joins Koubaroulis in the booth.  Esherick is a former Georgetown University head coach and assistant basketball coach and scout for the U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball Team at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.

George Mason Athletic Director Tom O'Connor said, "Verizon FiOS is a new, innovative player in the market of sports broadcasting, and we are thrilled to be part of their first live sports broadcast.  They share the same philosophy as we do at Mason, which is a commitment to the community."

In addition to the live telecast, FiOS1 presents taped high school basketball, with Verizon's FiOS1 High School Game of the Week.  Matchups include girls basketball with Robinson at Westfield on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m., and boys basketball with W.T. Woodson at Langley on Feb. 14 at 12:30 p.m.  FiOS1 will broadcast the Northern Region District Championship and Northern Region boys and girls regional semi-final and finals from the Patriot Center.  Broadcast times and dates will be announced soon.  All high school games are recorded and played at a later date.  Games are repeated throughout the week.

After the broadcasts of the George Mason vs. Delaware men's college basketball game and the district and regional championships, they will be available for viewing at any time as part of a free local-sports video-on-demand package on FiOS1.  The package, which will be offered at no extra charge to Verizon FiOS TV subscribers in the Washington metro area, will also feature college and high school football games that aired on FiOS1 during the fall 2007 season.

FiOS1 delivers Washington metro weather, traffic, sports and community features.  FiOS1 presents sports from Georgetown and George Mason universities in addition to the Feb. 20 live broadcast and other sports events.  FiOS1 is on Channel 1 in the Verizon FiOS TV channel lineup and is available at no extra cost to Verizon FiOS TV digital subscribers in Northern Virginia and parts of Maryland. 

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 66 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 235,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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