Recently, Verizon FiOS announced its new Custom TV service which allows consumers to pick and choose the networks they want to watch. And while the service hasn’t pleased ESPN one iota, Verizon is going full-steam ahead with Custom TV. One network that’s been just announced as an addition CBS Sports Network.

If you’re not familiar with Custom TV, it allows customers to sign up for a base of 35 networks which includes AMC, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, HSN, QVC and WeTV along with your local channels. From there, you can two “channel packs” either news, entertainment, lifestyle, kids, pop culture, and two different sports tiers.

ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Fox Sports 1 & 2, NBCSN, Big Ten Network, and in the conference footprints SEC and Longhorn Networks are those included in the main package. This is where CBS Sports Network would be included. Now CBSSN is already a part of the FiOS Extreme HD package and subscribers to that tier won’t see any changes.

The other sports pack includes the local regional sports networks, ESPNews, Golf Channel, the four major professional league-owned networks, One World Sports and SEC Network.

Any additional packages would cost $10 on top of the $74.99 for the base and two included tiers.

For CBS Sports Network, it’s a big feather in its cap to be included with the major cable sports networks. But we’ll see if ESPN remains a part of Custom TV’s sports pack or finds a way to muscle into the base package. Overall, we’re in the Wild West for TV and online services until the dust settles.

CBS Sports Network has been slow in picking up distribution, but perhaps this move to get on board with Verizon’s Custom TV is will get the ball rolling.

[Verizon]

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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