Verizon FiOS subscribers get CBS shows and VOD

The select beneficiaries of Verizon's FiOS fiber optic broadband service have just gotten more exclusive content to hoard over the rest of us (that is, if you call free OTA network broadcasts "exclusive content") thanks to a deal between the Big V and CBS that will bring the network's programming to the nascent IPTV service. Current and future FiOS subscribers will be able to enjoy "analog, digital, multicast and high-definition" content from "CBS owned and operated stations and the CBS Television Network," which not only includes a simulcast of regular TV fare but access to video-on-demand content as well. This may well be the largest IPTV agreement of its kind to date, and should hopefully serve to encourage other content providers to open up their own offerings to Internet rebroadcast too, which would let us finally retire our unsightly old roof antenna for good.

[Via Cnet]

[Brian @ Mar 20th 2006 10:52PM]

This would be great for me and other New Jerseyans if Cablevi$ion and Comca$t weren't afraid of competition in NJ.

[Mike @ Mar 21st 2006 12:06AM]

Second that...Verizon would make a fortune here...Everyone is fedup with Crapvision

[Tyler @ Mar 21st 2006 12:22AM]

Let's face it, anyone that would offer fiber would clean house. You don't know fedup until you are under charter "highspeed."

[Jon @ Mar 21st 2006 4:28AM]

The best thing to happen to Cox Northern Virginia was Verizon's announcement of FiOS service in Fairfax County. Before FiOS was even beginning to be rolled out, Cox started offering 15 mbps down/2 mbps up internet for $55/mo ($5/mo more than the FiOS service would charge for equal service with no contract) and 5 mbps down/2 mbps up for $40/mo.

[bufbarnaby @ Mar 21st 2006 5:32AM]

So what...I get about 50 free over the air HDTV channels now with my HDTV WONDER card and can record to the HDD in many different formats.BTW...mine was an early model and doesn`t support Broadcast Flag if that ever comes about. I`m about 35 miles from the broadcast towers in LA and get perfect reception with the little UHF antenna that came in the box , mounted outside. HDTV is alive and well.Just get a HDTV Wonder.

[Ben Drawbaugh @ Mar 21st 2006 7:58AM]

Did you see HDTV mentioned in the article? I read it but didn't get the impression that they were going to offer the content in HD. It is great if they are, but if they don't then who cares?

[RWD fan @ Mar 21st 2006 8:43AM]

On a different note...
Who submitted this with a KCOY picture? I'm in NC now, but I lived in Lompoc for 9 years and tripped out seeing a Santa Maria, CA TV station's call letters. What's it got to do with the story, or is the Evan Blass from the area? Maybe just a Michael Jackson fan?
/sorry for the threadjack.

[Riskable @ Mar 21st 2006 11:47AM]

Does anyone else see the slippery slope in this? CBS signs a deal to offer exclusive content to only one Internet service provider and no one else is upset by this?

I guess you all really don't care about net neutrality.

If you don't get it, it boils down to this:

Exclusive content for ISPs will fracture the Internet. It creates bubbles of content that only certain users of the Internet can access. What if CBS had a show that everyone wanted to watch, but it was only available to Verizon customers? What's to stop the big content providers from signing exclusive deals across the board with one single, nation-wide ISP? It looks like a monopoly in the making to me and we need to stop it before it gets out of hand.

Content on the Internet must not be cut up into pieces like this. If a large amount of desirable content falls into the hands of one ISP, how will the others compete? Why would anyone want to be on a different ISP? Once the ISP has all the exclusive deals, what's to stop them from charging monopoly prices for access to their network?

It is a dangerous situation indeed.

-Riskable
http://www.riskable.com
"I have a license to kill -9"

[Tony @ Mar 21st 2006 11:51AM]

In my area we are still waiting for Verizon to be granted a Cable franchise...

[Shahryar @ Mar 21st 2006 2:39PM]

bufbarnaby -

I've never heard of a HDTV wonder card. Can you tell us more about it?

In Howard County, MD, we're supposed to be getting FIOS soon and I'm looking forward to it to get away from Comcast for a bit. Their prices have really gone up.

Riskable -

I'm not sure I agree with you on the big deal with verizon signing this exclusive content thing with CBS. If Verizon comes in and doesn't let anyone else offer TV/Internet services, then I'll be scared. But if they're just getting exclusive content. That's not a big deal. we still have a choice. and it'll push other providers to come up with their own content.

[Bootes @ Mar 21st 2006 4:28PM]

Uhm Riskable.... This has nothing to do with net neutrality. They're talking about Fios TV which competes with Cable and Satellite TV services. It has nothing to do with the internet connection other than coming over the same wire.

[pkp646 @ Apr 5th 2006 2:44PM]

Getting FIOS in New Jersey would be great for that area. The cable companies are fighting to the end to prevent them from being able to enter the market, and I can see why. FIOS like Verizon is offering is not only fast and reliable, but it provides great new content and at a similar or cheaper cost. I say let 'em in and break the cable monopoly.

[Mike Mooney @ Aug 31st 2007 7:51AM]

It's pretty funny that, despite this agreement being signed almost 1.5 years ago, Verizon is still not offering CBS on demand (at least not in the Philly area), nor any HD content on demand. Granted Verizon is still a million times better than Comcast, but the lack of good VOD stinks.