ESPN says it won't participate in Verizon's slimmer bundles

For sports fans, the new slimmer packages being offered by Verizon FiOS starting this weekend won't include one of the most popular networks in entertainment: ESPN.Disney-owned ESPN said in a statement late Friday that it hasn't agreed to license its ESPN or ESPN2 channels in Verizon's new "Custom TV" skinny bundles. The two channels, which run exclusive games including college and NFL football and basketball events, are only available in Verizon's much bigger bundles of hundreds of channels.