ESPN says it won’t participate in Verizon’s slimmer bundles

For sports fans, the new slimmer packages being offered by Verizon FiOS starting won't include one of the most popular networks in entertainment: ESPN.

Disney-owned ESPN said that it hasn't agreed to license its ESPN or ESPN2 channels in Verizon's new "Custom TV" skinny bundles. The two channels, which run exclusive games including college and NFL football and basketball events, are only available in Verizon's much bigger bundles of hundreds of channels. “Media reports about Verizon’s new contemplated bundles describe packages that would not be authorized by our existing agreements," ESPN said. "Among other issues, our contracts clearly provide that neither ESPN nor ESPN2 may be distributed in a separate sports package.” Verizon had said its genre-oriented slim packages of channels would include sports channels such as ESPN, Fox, the NFL Network and regional sports networks.