Verizon Communications has signed a long-term deal with Walt Disney to carry programming from the company's various TV networks for its new FiOS TV broadband video service, writes MediaPost. The agreement includes ABC Family, ABC News Now, Disney Channel, ESPN, Toon Disney, and SOAPnet, and well as retransmission deals for ABC-owned TV stations. Verizon will get two minutes of advertising time per hour in all Disney networks - except for the commercial-free Disney Channel and ABC News Now.

Verizon's broadband service is a fiber network that claims faster speeds than other broadband services over traditional cable or phone lines. Verizon's plan is to deliver FiOS to more than three million homes in 15 states by the end of 2005. SBC Communications, Comcast, and others have also started up major broadband services.

Beginning tomorrow, Verizon will start selling the broadband FiOS TV service in Keller, Texas as a test market. Fiber has been passed through that market's 8,700 homes.