AT&T U-verse TV to Include Leading Faith-Based Networks

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) today announced multiple, separate distribution agreements to deliver leading faith-based networks as part of the AT&T U-verse(SM) TV channel lineup. Under the agreements, AT&T U-verse TV customers will have access to multicultural, interdenominational faith-based programming from 14 of the most popular linear religious channels.

SAN ANTONIO (PRWEB) September 19, 2006 -- AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) today announced multiple, separate distribution agreements to deliver leading faith-based networks as part of the AT&T U-verse(SM) TV channel lineup. Under the agreements, AT&T U-verse TV customers will have access to multicultural, interdenominational faith-based programming from 14 of the most popular linear religious channels.

Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the world’s largest religious network, will deliver the following channels to AT&T U-verse TV customers: TBN, The Church Channel, Spanish-language TBN Enlace USA, youth-oriented JCTV, and the new Smile of a Child children’s television network.

The Inspiration Networks will provide INSP-The Inspiration Network, featuring diverse ministry programs and youth content; its Spanish-language family network La Familia Cosmovision (LFC); and, beginning in 2007, Inspirational Life Television (i-Lifetv), its inspirational lifestyles network.

Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) will deliver its commercial-free Catholic family and religious programming on its English and Spanish networks, EWTN Global Catholic Network and EWTN Español.

The Daystar Television Network, the world’s second-largest faith-based network, will deliver its schedule of ministry programming on its linear network.

The U-verse channel lineup will also include FamilyNet, owned and operated by the Southern Baptist Convention, offering faith and family programming; The Word Network, offering urban ministries and gospel music programming designed for the African-American community; and World Harvest Television, owned and operated by LeSEA Broadcasting Network, offering family programming for all ages.

“AT&T is committed to providing a robust content selection that speaks to the interests and beliefs of our diverse customer base,” said Dan York, head of programming, AT&T Operations, Inc. “We are proud to offer an array of faith-based networks that will offer AT&T U-verse customers inspirational, family-friendly programming that reflects their spiritual priorities and values.”

AT&T U-verse TV is delivered by Project Lightspeed, the company’s initiative to expand the fiber-optics network deeper into neighborhoods to deliver U-verse TV, AT&T Yahoo!® High Speed Internet U-verse Enabled and, in the future, Voice over IP services. Through its subsidiaries, AT&T expects to reach nearly 19 million households by the end of 2008 as part of its initial deployment, using fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) and fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) technologies.

Financial and other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Find More Information Online:

Podcasts:

AT&T Delivers Content in New Ways (http://att.sbc.com/gen/landing-pages?pid=7728) – Kieran Nolan, AT&T VP–Consumer Marketing for broadband and U-verse services

Media Kits:

U-verse (http://att.sbc.com/gen/press-room?pid=5838) – AT&T plans to bring IP-based services, including video, to millions of customers.

Delivering the Digital Lifestyle (http://att.sbc.com/gen/press-room?pid=7857) – Anywhere, anytime, on three screens: the TV, the PC and wireless phone.

Web Links:

AT&T U-verse Web Site (http://www.sbc.com/gen/u-verse?pid=7871&cdvn=custom)

FTTX Wikipedia Entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTTX)

IPTV Wikipedia Entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPTV)

For more information, contact:

Destiny Belknap

Office: (214) 665-1314

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About AT&T

AT&T Inc. is one of the world's largest telecommunications holding companies and is the largest in the United States. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide providers of IP-based communications services to business and as leading U.S. providers of high speed DSL Internet, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services provider with 57.3 million wireless customers. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services is available at www.att.com.

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