The Disney/ABC Television Group, ESPN and Verizon have extended their mobile video content agreement to include full-length TV episodes.

Per the deal, a comprehensive portfolio of news, entertainment and sports video programming, including full-length episodes of shows from ABC Entertainment, ABC News and Disney Channel, as well as content from ESPN, will be available to Verizon Wireless V CAST Video and Mobile Web customers.

"This is an extension and an expansion of what we're currently doing with Disney, ABC and ESPN," said Debra Lewis, spokeswoman for Verizon Wireless, Basking Ridge, NJ. "We're bringing the content that people want to their phones.

"The Disney Channel content appeals to kids and families, the sports stuff has a specific demographic as well, and they offer us a wide variety of content for our customers," she said. "In the past we've had lots of different content from them.

"What's new is full episodes -- in the past it was a clip here and a clip there, but now we're offering prime-time series, new shows, and people can watch the full episodes on their handset."

In the third quarter of 2008, Verizon customers tallied 43 million downloads of V CAST video and music content.

The agreement covers mobile distribution of on-demand, full-length episodes to V CAST Video, complementing existing short-form content currently available from ABC and ESPN.

Full-length programs will include "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Ugly Betty" from ABC Entertainment.

From ABC News, there will be full-length episodes of "Nightline," "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," "World News with Charles Gibson" and "20/20."

From the Disney Channel, "Hannah Montana," "The Suite Life on Deck" and "Phineas and Ferb" will all be available to Verizon subscribers.

Full episodes of these programs will be available on demand on V CAST Video the day following their television premiere.

Verizon Wireless customers will now also be able to access and view expanded programming from ESPN, including short news clips and other sports-related content.

Customers with select V CAST-enabled phones can check out V CAST whenever they want for $3 for 24-hour use or by signing up for the $15 V CAST VPak monthly subscription, which also includes access to Verizon Wireless' ESPN MVP, Get It Now and Mobile Web services.

V CAST subscribers get unlimited basic video, but application download fees may apply for 3D games and premium video.

"Going forward, there will be all kinds of conversion processes for Alltel subscribers, both back-end and front-end," Ms. Lewis said. "Once they're converted, they'll have access to the full suite of services we offer, including V CAST."

There are no airtime or megabyte charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content with any V CAST subscription.

As part of this agreement, Verizon customers will also have easy access to a variety of ESPN's and Disney/ABC Television Group's mobile Web sites.

Verizon Wireless recently completed its acquisition of Alltel Wireless.

"We are excited to team with Verizon to bring an even more extensive, comprehensive array of multi-brand, world-class programming to V CAST customers," said Matt Murphy, senior vice president of digital video distribution, Disney and ESPN Media Networks, in a written statement.

"As we continue expanding the ways viewers can connect to the content they want and brands they love on the platforms they choose, Verizon has been a true ally," he said.

"In the past year, we've not only teamed to offer full episodes on wireless, but have also worked together to bring ESPN Deportes to more Verizon FiOS customers, to make popular ABC series available via fast-forward disabled VOD and to launch new iTV applications like ESPN's Fantasy Football."