Verizon Wireless and BET Networks Launch New V CAST Channel

Verizon Wireless and BET Networks Launch New V CAST Channel

NEW YORK and BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- BET Networks, the premier provider of urban and African American programming, and Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's most reliable national wireless broadband network, are bringing BET Networks' brands and top-rated content to Verizon Wireless' V CAST multimedia service. Beginning today, BET brands and content segments will be available on V CAST Video, including interviews from 106 & PARK, the number one music video show on television, AMERICAN GANGSTER, the highly rated docudrama that chronicles the life and times of American's most notorious Black criminals, COLLEGE HILL, television's first Black dramatic reality show, BET'S COMIC VIEW, the longest running comedy show on cable television, BET's leading music specials, news programs, and much more.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070214/NYW013 )

"Mobile video distribution is an integral part of our overall digital media strategy as our research clearly indicates that African Americans are both leading consumers of, and have the most enthusiasm for, mobile media," said Debra Lee, chairman and chief executive officer of BET Networks. "I'm very excited about our relationship with Verizon Wireless, as I believe our audience's unique demand for mobile content, and our network's content in particular will allow BET to have an outsized impact on mobile media consumption."

With V CAST Video, customers can get video content on-demand including news, weather and sports updates, clips from popular TV programs, music videos, movie trailers, 3D games and more. Verizon Wireless customers can find BET programming in the Entertainment section on V CAST-enabled phones. BET programming, including 106 & PARK interviews, AMERICAN GANGSTER, COLLEGE HILL, BET'S COMIC VIEW, BET's leading music specials, news programs and more are included in V CAST subscriptions.

"Verizon Wireless provides customers the content they want how they want it, and we are thrilled to extend an array of content for the urban and African American audiences to our customers," said John Harrobin, vice president of digital media for Verizon Wireless.

To get V CAST, customers with select V CAST-enabled phones can check out V CAST whenever they want for just $3.00 for a 24-hour use subscription or by signing up for the $15.00 V CAST VPak monthly subscription. Customers get unlimited basic video -- including BET programming -- but application download fees apply for 3D games and premium video. There are no airtime charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 59 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 65,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:and)(NYSE:VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 84 million households according to Nielsen media research, and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, the Number 1 Internet portal for African Americans; BET Digital Networks - BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; and BET Mobile, a service venture into the lucrative world of ring tones, games and video content for wireless devices.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070214/NYW013
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN2
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Jeffrey Nelson of Verizon Wireless, +1-908-559-7519,
Jeffrey.Nelson@verizonwireless.com; or Marcy Polanco of BET, +1-212-975-3327,
Marcy.Polanco@BET.net

Web site: http://www.verizonwireless.com/

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