Verizon rolls out 23 new FiOS TV HD channels in Fort Wayne
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted June 30th 2008 3:01PM
posted June 30th 2008 3:01PM
Right on schedule, Verizon's FiOS TV gets with the HD program and over doubles its lineup in at least one market, as the lucky devils in Fort Wayne IN get access to 23 new HD channels today. Now usually Verizon likes to roll out national channels nation wide on the same day, but because it is in the middle of shuting off all the analog channels, the lineups are being realigned market by market. Ironically, the new channels seem to be rolling out in the opposite order of the intial Verizon FiOS TV rollout, in which the initial two markets to get the service, are the last to get the upgrade. But even those poor souls in Tampa FL and Keller TX can expect all the HD goodness within the next 60 to 120 days.
As a lucky devil, I am very pleased with my FiOS TV service. HD content was great before. This just ups the ante.
Seems fitting since some give Fort Wayne credit as being the birthplace of the electronic TV. See article on Mr. Farnsworth here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo_Farnsworth
Off to check out the new content now. Thanks for the notice Engadget.
I hate you Verizon FIOS. I hate you because I can't have you.
Now I'm going to have to take the ugly girl to the prom, just because you're playing hard to get. I know you've been seeing my neighbor across the street for over a year now, but you still won't come to my house. It hurts me because we could be so happy together if you just gave me a chance. I'll even let you cut my copper. Think about it okay!
xoxo
I'm in the same boat, I feel your pain........
It was supposed to be 30 new channels and by Spring time. And as I live in Texas I get to wait until something like October.
Go with DirecTV if you really want all the latest HD.
...But go with FiOS if you want to avoid having your HD re-compressed to MPEG-4 before transmission. There's something to be said for quality over quantity.
Fortunately my local Cox affiliate doesn't re-compress their HD channels, but I still wish I had the option of FiOS.
Oh please please please. Let there be loads of HD on my television when I go home.
Slightly longer than 60 days.... Last report was that those of us poor souls in Texas (the last on the FIOS list for new channels) won't be getting our new HD goodness until October 8, if then...
I'm in the Dallas area, and the last I heard (From a FiOS tech this past Saturday) was that we should see new channels sometime in August. Here's to hoping he knows what he's talking about.
Oh, the Horror! My TiVo HD is all messed up with HD channels everywhere! What to do, what to do. Looks like my Fort Wayne butt needs to resetup all of the FiOS channels on the TiVo - to make sense of all of these new HD channels......
Man, how will I get through it all?
/sarcasm.
Slightly OT - anyone know approximately how long it takes for FiOS to be available after they put in the green manhole sized distribution boxes? The best I could get from the contractors running the condult was, "Si, FiOS, Si."
It really varies, in my 'hood it took almost 9 months, but others have seen it in less than 3.
Where is this list of markets and the roll out dates for the new HD channels?
It seems like there are still some bugs to work out with the new channels. TBS HD and ESPN News HD show up in the guide but are not available to tune in.