Verizon launches FiOS TV Online trial
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Aug 27th 2009 9:46AM
posted Aug 27th 2009 9:46AM
That smug FiOS guy wants you to know that Verizon has announced the launch of FiOS TV Online, extending your sitcom addiction to yet another screen with on-demand programming from TNT and TBS (with other providers coming "soon," apparently). If you thought watching Project Runway on your Motorola Krave was mind-blowing, wait until the latest Mark-Paul Gosselaar snoozefest is available any time, any day, on your laptop! Kind of makes Twitter widgets seem rather tame in comparison. Full PR after the break.
Update: Here's that link to the Verizon Products Trials Program. FiOS customers, let us know how it works out for you!
Update: Here's that link to the Verizon Products Trials Program. FiOS customers, let us know how it works out for you!
Verizon Launches Trial of FiOS TV Online, Extending Multi-Screen Leadership
New Online Platform Lets FiOS TV Subscribers View Programming From any Broadband Connection
NEW YORK, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon, the leader in delivering high-quality entertainment experiences across TV, broadband and mobile devices, has launched a trial to bring television programming online to FiOS TV subscribers. As a partner in the industry's TV Everywhere initiative, Verizon is taking the lead to bring customers the entertainment they want, wherever and whenever they want it.
"As the appetite for instant, easy access to high-quality entertainment continues to explode, only Verizon is able to deliver to customers what they want, wherever they go," said Shawn Strickland, vice president of FiOS product management for Verizon. "Whether it's at home through FiOS TV, FiOS Internet or Verizon High Speed Internet or on the go with Verizon Wi-Fi or V CAST Video from Verizon Wireless -- Verizon is well ahead of the industry in listening to customers and giving them the access and control they're clamoring for."
Time Warner Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bewkes said, "When we first announced the TV Everywhere initiative, we hoped others in the industry would soon sign on to provide consumers with more on-demand television content over all platforms including broadband. We are pleased to partner with Verizon to deliver TNT and TBS programming on-demand and online at no additional cost to customers and to do so in a progressive manner that builds the business for the future."
Verizon's trial includes content from Time Warner's Turner networks, TNT and TBS, and will soon include content from other providers. Trial participants will be able to watch the programs on their personal computers or laptops -- at home or away -- using any broadband connection. Using their Verizon Online user names and passwords, participating FiOS TV customers will be able to access the online programming at the networks' Web sites.
"As an industry, it's critical that we get the TV Everywhere user experience and value proposition right," said Strickland. "Our FiOS TV trial will enable us to integrate feedback from our customers to help deliver a service that is consistent with the ultimate entertainment experience that FiOS TV customers have come to expect."
Verizon: a Track Record of Multi-Screen Leadership
Verizon has been delivering high-quality video entertainment to its FiOS and High Speed Internet broadband customers since 2005 with online services like Starz Play, ESPN360, Disney Connection, YES Network and NFL Game Extra. Verizon also is preparing to launch online content from EPIX, a new cross-platform premium service from Viacom Inc., its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate.
In addition, V CAST Video from Verizon Wireless brings more than 100 full-length TV series from leading broadcast and cable providers to wireless phones. These top-rated and most-watched programs rotate with the television season, with episodes available on V CAST within hours of their first airing on television. In the second quarter of 2009, there were nearly 40 million downloads and streams of V CAST video and music.
The Verizon multi-screen experience also includes bringing online content to TV sets. FiOS TV customers have the unique ability to use their TV screens to interact with friends and followers on top social media sites Facebook and Twitter. Plus, FiOS TV DVR subscribers can search and enjoy online videos from blip.tv, Dailymotion and Veoh on their home-entertainment systems.
"Verizon's best-in-class networks and award-winning services provide an edge in delivering entertainment and information to customers across all of their screens," said Strickland. "The launch of our FiOS TV Online initiative is the next step in our commitment to bring customers the best of what they want, wherever they want it."
FiOS TV is currently available to more than 10.3 million homes in 14 states. For the latest news, updates and information about FiOS TV, visit www.verizon.com/newscenter and http://www.verizon.com/athomeblog.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 87 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 235,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.
VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.
SOURCE Verizon
"i'd tap that"
His words not mine.
WOw... I can't wait for the FIOS TV On-line iPhone App!!!!
Anyone have this yet?
I can't find access anywhere and they dont have any dates or direct links.
i need to know this too... this seems pretty awesome
Man my envy of people that live in Fios enabled areas just went up 10x...
I have FIOS. It kills Cable service cause its got 22,000 kbps up/ 22,000 kbps down even during peak times. Its so fast you can downoad 2Gigabytes in less than 10 minutes.
I like the Set top Box. You can play chess on it, or use your facebook/twitter.
@Quantumphysics
ha! and don't forget about downloading porn!
Meh...don't care about TBS or TNT. I'd rather have ESPN, Versus and Fox Sports.
I had FIOS and got rid of it. (Yes, there really are people ditching their FIOS equipment like in the cable commercials!)
I had constant problems with dropouts and other random glitchiness. They came out several times to check my signal and said nothing was wrong, it's just the way FIOS is. The worst was the screen blanking - every once in a while all of my HD channels would just start blanking repeatedly several times per second. I'd have no choice but to just watch SD instead.
But the worst was the router that they force you to use. You can use a second router on top of it but it makes things really confusing, and it doesn't help the fact that their router can only accept something like 8 incoming simultaneous connections before it crashes. My internet access was going down several times *per day* with that piece of junk, and it would take the phone and TV with it (since they're all plugged into the same box). The worst thing about it was that often it'd happen while I was asleep, so I'd be without phone service all night long and if there was any kind of emergency, nobody could contact me at my home phone. (I do give out my cell # for emergencies too, but you know, batteries run out, etc. It's good to have a backup.)
I looked up these problems on the net and found I wasn't the only one - in fact, that's how I know about the router limitations.
It is just an extremely unreliable service. I have never had cable go down once.
@Quantumphysics
My cable service gives me 20Mb down, so I can download very quickly too. But up is only 2Mb, so uploading suffers a bit. Still, for living in the country and only paying $59 a month for 20Mb down, I'm satisfied. (What does that 22Mb cost per month for FIOS?)
Of course I would LOVE to have FIOS in my area, but I'm sure that will be many years down the road for me.
@jivetrky - I have Fios and I'm getting 20 down, 5 up Internet, unlimited phone service, and Fios TV with all the HD channels and 1 HD DVR for about $100/month. (That is a promotional price which I think will go up about $20/month when it ends)
i live in nyc and have cablevision cable thats 101mbs down and i think 40 mb up and no data caps so i think i pay this round of who has the fastest internet. the only downsize is that it cost 100 a month :( i'm thinking about downgrading to 40 down and 20 up
Verizon already offers ESPN online. Http://www.espn360.com
My service is $106 a month (4 set top boxes)
I do agree that sometimes my box goes down - but it recovers right away. This is earl though...when new boxes are released it will be better.
How about bringing Fios to my area you assholes?
Ha, I felt the same way, except for when they do, it's even more excruciating, just because the lines are there means they still have to test. That process took 3 months, so not only did i not have FIOS but I got to see this big gray box at the end of my street everyday reminding me it's there but I can't have it yet. Eventually it was turned on and I think I was the second person on the block to have it installed.
How can a company kick so much ass, yet have such terrible wireless policies at the same time?
Grumble, grumble, grumble...
Will you only be allowed to watch things from your area? Could this potentially compete with SlingBox?
Lets try and get FiOS deployed to your entire service area before adding new features, mmmkay?
And how about letting me set up recordings through the internet? TiVo's only had that for about 5 years.
FIOS introduced this feature a month or two ago
You can:
http://www36.verizon.com/fiostv/web/UnProtected/RemoteDVRInfo.aspx
Dear FiOS Guy,
I love my new DVR but sometimes I forget to set the recordings, so I end up speeding home from work to watch my latest shows. Can you help me.
[Smug FiOS guy introduces new feature, isn't authorized to pay for speeding tickets]
From the look on his face it looks like he just did.
200 channels of crap.
link to trial sign-up; https://www36.verizon.com/MM/Protected/TestTrack/SignIn.aspx
woot just signed up!
I'd love to get this.... to bad they only service a tiny subset.
just signed up for the trial...
That's great that FIOS is doing this... I just wish I COULD GET FIOS SERVICE AT MY HOUSE FIRST!!!!! COME ON!!!!!
Agree. Where is my fiber optic cabling, Verizon?! Bring it to the rest of New Jersey!
@Jeff it sounds like either you had a bad ONT/BBU or maybe the outlet you had it plugged into wasn't very reliable. Either way, any field tech should have been able to isolate that and it sucks that you got screwed. I am a supervisor at one of the FSC's and I hate hearing of people leaving because our employees didn't just do their job.
Guys Guys Relax FIOS is coming....Well as long as you don't live in a state where Cable comps own the Local goverment.(hey P.A looking at ya) Well I live in NYC and there's part of the city that do have fios and others that don't. Mostly is because some areas are going to take time to wired then others because the Landlord(Land Wh@res more like it) Sold themselfs to cable so they block Verizon at every turn.It took Verizon 2 years just to get the permit from the state to sell TV because Cablevison,Timewarner and Comcast said it wasent fair to then and not the customer.
First time I saw FIOS in action was on Digital life 06 Man it blew my Sox off. Then a year ago my friend in NJ got it and all i could say was (like their commercial) WOW. The speed of his internet was amazing and mind you he has the lowest tier and it blows away my cousins "EXTREME" speed Cablevision at Peak and regular hours.
To Jeff
dude there's a site for Fios users to resolve those kind of issues without having to call Verizon, Also the return rate if is high I bet you that the cable comps is even worse..Go to any cablevision center and check the amount of people droping Cable you will be surprise. Here's the page i was telling you Jeff
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/vzfiostv
Also heres the price ranges for their tiers
http://www22.verizon.com/residential/fiostv/plans/plans.htm
BRING FIOS TO ALL.. DAMN IT!!!!
Isn't that him on the tv?
Thanks for those links, just signed up!
Hope they add a lot of channels, this makes the Kitchen TV idea much more viable. Been thinking about a new Win7 Touchscreen PC for the kitchen and now that I will be able to watch TV on it, even better!
waiting on confirmation
Ugh. Verizon NEEDS to stop using home phone numbers as identifiers. They have account numbers for a reason!
I can't even sign up because it wants a landline phone number - which I don't have due to decent mobile service (also served by Verizon, at that).
you should be able to sign up without needing a landline. I have AT&T for my house phone and whenever i call i just tell them i don't have a verizon landline\cellphone and give them my cellphone number.
If you look at the Source link, you'll see 'telephone number' is a required field.
I'm already a FiOS customer (TV and Internet), I got rid of my phone service and saved myself $30/mo .. It's just for a lot of their online tools, they require a telephone number, and I think it's time to abolish that practice - it shows that you only care or give priority to people with a landline. This is both a poor way to run business, and depending on how you view it, something certain government organizations might be interested in opening dialogue about.
The company is slowing down it's rollout of FiOS because not enough people are subscribing where it IS available. Out of every 100 houses we deploy to, only about 35 subscribe to it at any given time. If you're spending that much money to put it in an entire neighborhood and only get 1/3rd of households to starting paying you to make a return the money you spent, you can't keep rolling it out to the world quickly. For the moment, if you want FiOS to come to your area, you need to convince people you know who are already in FiOS-capable areas to pick up the service. All things being equal, I can't imagine a scenario where I would pick cable over FiOS...I mean, really? For those people who think they are stuck in areas Verizon doesn't serve at all, there is a trial going on in Texas where Verizon provides FiOS *outside* of it's normal territory...and people like it. That *could* start elsewhere, but same deal...the machine only runs on money/subscribers. More subscribers (market penetration) = faster machine.
Here's an idea: Standardize your service rates. There was a promotion going on to get 25/15 for $5 more than the 20/15 costs. But turns out that was only for a specific area - I had to pay something like $15 more if I was going to get the same upgrade.
If Verizon looks like a company people actually WANT to go to (instead of 'a choice'), you have a better chance of picking up new business, and keeping existing customers when 'the next new thing' rolls through.
I could imagine that could be the result of taxes or competiting prices in that area are different.
For those of you not 100% sure of what Verizon Fios could offer you, here's a link that i believe will help. If it doesn't help you, sorry about that, but it couldn't hurt to click right? =]
http://www.tvlesson.com/video/37422_verizon-fios-tv-review.html
Looks like they don't want me telling you how my trial goes :( Maybe this is just standard mumbo jumbo.
H. YOU AGREE NOT TO DISCLOSE YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE TRIAL OR YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE SERVICE DURING THIS TRIAL TO ANYONE OTHER THAN EMPLOYEES OF VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. (INCLUDING ITS AFFILIATES), ITS AUTHORIZED AGENTS OR CONTRACTORS PARTICIPATING IN THE TRIAL OR TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRIAL, SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGES, IMPROVEMENTS OR YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THE INTERNET, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CHAT ROOMS OR FORUMS, AND THAT THE TERMS HEREIN ARE CONFIDENTIAL. THIS NON-DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT INCLUDES WITHOUT LIMITATION STATEMENTS TO THE MEDIA OR ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY.
I don't believe this... No comments about the hot girl in blue?!! What the hell's the mattter with...you know what? Scratch that. More for me.
Did anyone get a response back about it?