Cincinnati Bell adds ESPN's SEC Network to its Fioptics TV channel roster

Cincinnati Bell is taking advantage of the upcoming college season football kickoff by adding ESPN's new SEC Network to its growing Fioptics TV lineup, a move that will help it differentiate its growing video library with something more than another me-too IPTV service.  

Existing and new Fioptics customers will be able to get access to the new channel beginning today.

Customers will be able to access the SEC Network on channels 204 (SD) and 604 (HD), with the Fioptics Elite package. Channel 205 (SD) will serve as an overflow channel for additional SEC games. Fusion will be available on channels 250 (SD) and 650 (HD) beginning Sept. 30.

During this season, the SEC Network will broadcast 45 exclusive SEC football games. It will also air 75 baseball games, 100 men's basketball and 60 women's basketball games.

SEC is only one piece of a larger deal with ESPN that also includes all the current ESPN and Disney channels. Fioptics customers will also enjoy access to Fusion--a lifestyle channel targeted toward the millennial generation--beginning Sept. 30.

Fioptics customers also will be able to take advantage of additional TV Everywhere apps like Watch ESPN, Watch Disney and Watch ABC, which will be available to customers before the end of the year.

Adding new content such as the SEC Network is important as Cincinnati Bell looks to enhance its Fioptics offering to stay competitive with local cable operator Time Warner Cable.

In the second quarter of 2014, the service provider reported that Fioptics revenues jumped 45 percent year-over-year to $34 million. During this period, the regional telco added 6,700 Fioptics Internet subscribers and 5,000 Fioptics video subscribers, ending the quarter with a total of 98,300 and 82,500 subscribers, respectively.

For more:
- see the release

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