paidContent - Earnings Call: Viacom's Dauman: About Done With Upfront, Epix Signs Verizon

MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA) is "about done" with the upfront, Viacom CEO Philipe Dauman told analysts on the company's Q2 earnings call this morning. "Given current conditions, we're very pleased," he added. As for those current conditions, domestic ad revenues declined 6 percent in Q2, which may sound tough but is better than the 9 percent drop in Q1.

Dauman also announced the first distribution deal for new joint-venture premium channel Epix: Verizon (NYSE: VZ) FiOS, which just broke 2.5 million and passes more than 10 million households. It's not going to make the channel a success but it breaks the ice. (I'd expect AT&T's U-Verse to follow and then possibly a satellite operator next.) It's also not a pure premium deal. Dauman elaborated a little during Q&A: "Our agreement with Verizon gives them a lot of flexibility to package Epix in many different ways-linear, VOD, broadband, mobile." Verizon also can sell a la carte. Epix will work with Verizon on a mobile version for V Cast.

-More on advertising: Dauman said the company started to see some dollars canceled earlier come back during the scatter sales in the second quarter. He declined to give details on CPMs while the upfront continues: "Out of respect for our ad agency customers, we'll hold back on specifics." More to come.