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Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: March 28, 2009
Not much to report on the FiOS TV front this week, but we couldn't resist passing along two nuggets that are definitely pertinent for folks looking for more local content or residing in Marblehead, Massachusetts. As for the former, a spokesman has reportedly revealed that Verizon wants to "offer local television services in markets beyond the Washington DC metropolitan area," and we're hearing that the New York market may be one of the first to take part outside of the DC area. As for the latter, the Marblehead Board of Selectmen have granted a cable franchise to the carrier, paving the way for FiOS TV to become available soon. Here's hoping for a bit more action over the next seven days!Read - Local TV expansionRead - Marblehead, MA expansion
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: March 21, 2009
We'll be honest -- Verizon didn't give us much to yap about this week in the world of FiOS TV. That said, we're sure the residents of Clay, New York are elated to hear that FiOS TV will soon be on its way, while unemployed individuals in Roanoke and Richmond, Virginia can try their hand as a Verizon CSR if they so choose. Here's hoping for more on this front next week, but till then, you can dig in to the most recent happenings below.Read - FiOS TV to Clay, New YorkRead - FiOS internet to Windfall, IndianaRead - Jobs in Roanoke, VARead - Jobs in Richmond, VA
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: March 14, 2009
Good to see some life in ya, Verizon -- for a minute there, we were getting a touch worried. This week, the fiber carrier has has announced that small businesses can order up FiOS TV For Business for as low as $12.99 per month, not to mention that another Maryland town is granting the company a cable franchise. Also of note, MLB Network HD and MLB Extra Innings have arrived in time for baseball season, while more Sony and Turner Networks VOD programming should be hitting each and every FiOS TV neighborhood. Not a bad week! 'Til this time seven days from now, stay classy.Read - FiOS TV For BusinessRead - FiOS TV coming to Aberdeen, MarylandRead - MLB Network HD / MLB Extra InningsRead - FiOS TV gets Sony / Turner Networks VOD
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: February 28, 2009
There hasn't been a lot of FiOS TV expansion since the year became 2009, but those in existing areas have definitely been seeing new material. To that end, we've got a number of locales getting Golf Channel HD this week along with 60 new job openings for a New Jersey support center. Per usual, the details are below. We'll see you right back here next week -- here's hoping some good news hits your neighborhood within the next seven days.Read - New jobs in New JerseyRead - Golf Channel HD in North TexasRead - Golf Channel HD in MassachusettsRead - Golf Channel HD in Rhode Island
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: February 21, 2009
This week, Verizon has landed agreements to spread its FiOS TV services to more of Maryland and Virginia, while beefing up the channel lineups in other areas. It also managed to lay plans to open a new customer service and support center in New Jersey, which -- given the current economy -- deserves its own attention. We'll see you right back here next week -- here's hoping some good news hits your neighborhood within the next seven days.Read - Maryland expansionRead - Virginia expansionRead - 14 new channels in New JerseyRead - Golf Channel HD comes to Tampa BayRead - New service center in New JerseyRead - 18 new channels in California
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: February 7, 2009
In a continuation of last week, Verizon spent most of its time this week adding high-def channels to existing FiOS TV markets. We're sure those who already have FiOS are stoked to hear that, while the rest of us are grumbling with a hint of envy in our voices. Have a look below at what all went down in the land of Verizon this week, and count your lucky stars if you want your city to show up in next week's roundup.Read - New HD channels in Rhode IslandRead - New HD channels in MassachusettsRead - Philadelphia city council approved FiOS TV franchiseRead - New HD channels in Tampa BayRead - New HD channels in North TexasRead - FiOS TV franchise approved in Poughkeepsie, New YorkRead - New HD channels in Fort Wayne, IndianaRead - New HD channels in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: January 24, 2009
It's a lazy week in FiOS TV land, with just two relatively small snippets to discuss. Well, unless you live in Amherst, New York or Hanover, Massachusetts. The former city managed to land its very own FiOS store where prospective buyers can meander in, test drive the fiber-based TV service and get setup in one fell swoop. As for the latter, you've probably already guessed (correctly, might we add) that The Bay State has claimed yet another FiOS TV town, with thousands of residents in Hanover now able to order up the service. Seriously, the Verizon-Massachusetts love fest has to stop. It just has to.Read - Amherst storeRead - Hanover expansion
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: January 17, 2009
Verizon hasn't been too terribly busy on the FiOS TV expansion front since the new year began, but there have still been a few rollout plans announced for a handful of key communities. Since we last spoke prior to the onset of CES, the carrier has stretched its fiber-based programming service to residents and businesses in Justin, Northlake and unincorporated parts of Denton County (all in North Texas). Furthermore, new sections of Manhattan and Queens now have access, along with three more Massachusetts communities (Dover, Leominster and Norwell). We get the feeling the post-Christmas hangover will be fully extinguished by the end of next week, so hopefully we'll have an even larger list to run through seven days from now.Read - North Texas expansionRead - New York expansionRead - Massachusetts expansion
Washington, D.C. mayor signs bill approving FiOS TV implementation
Go 'head, Adrian -- brush your shoulders off. In a day where politicians are allowed to make and break promises with no real repercussions, the Washington, D.C. mayor deserves a hearty round of applause. After suggesting last May that FiOS would be landing in the District by early 2009, we're now informed that he has signed a bill authorizing the carrier to implement its fiber-based services in the region. Adrian M. Fenty has signed legislation into law that will give Verizon the ability to make FiOS TV available throughout DC over the next nine years, with the first residents able to order service within the next dozen months. Sure, there's a hoop or two more to jump through before this is all set in stone, but it's probably close enough to done to start celebrating.
Topeka, Kansas gets another pay-TV option: AT&T's U-verse TV
Topeka area residents have been primarily dealing with Cox Communications for years, but according to a new article in The Capital-Journal, AT&T is about to change that. As of now, U-verse TV is available for ordering in select parts of the city, and if you're curious to know if you're one of the lucky few (relatively), hit the read link and surf over to A the carrier's availability checker.[Thanks, Kevin]
AT&T hiking U-verse TV package rates for new customers... in Wisconsin, anyway
Those of you who reckoned AT&T was simply "above" those ignoble price hikes that cable companies are so famous for have some reality to check. Within the last week and change, the operator has announced that it will be pushing up some U-verse TV prices in February, ditching the whole "free access to Flickr Pro" thing and now, raising rates for new subscribers in the Badger State. According to a new writeup in Madison-based The Capital Times, a company spokesman has affirmed that three of its primary TV packages (U100, U200 and U-family) will increase by $5 per month for new customers, while existing subs will narrowly escape the hike for now. The changes are set to go into effect on February 1, 2009, and of course, they come hot on the heels of Charter's decision to push prices skyward. So much for competition driving prices south, huh?
AT&T pushes U-verse to Lansing, Michigan
Flint and Saginaw aren't too far from Lansing, and apparently it's the latest town in Michigan to get AT&T's U-verse. According to a fiber-craving local who has been plugging his address in for months in hopes of getting good news, he finally got the reply he has been looking for. In at least some parts of the city, U-verse TV and high-speed internet can now be ordered, and we hear Sparty is quite happy to know of the additional competition.[Thanks, Glenn]
Tsutaya TV download HD to Blu-ray service tested
In the next step for the download-to-own movement, Tsutaya TV offers Japanese viewers the opportunity to download high definition (1080i) videos from Paramount, Warner, NBC Universal or Disney and burn them to a Blu-ray disc to keep permanently. In a trial run, AV Watch downloaded a full length 8.8Gb movie (No Country for Old Men) in 28 minutes over a fiber connection, compared to 120 minutes via ADSL. The magic of Google Translate reveals video quality that was only slightly outpaced by Blu-ray standards, unfortunately accompanied by only a stereo audio soundtrack. The biggest handicap? Equipment incompatibilities, with a burned disc that wouldn't play in a PlayStation 3, we're not sure if the acTVila-based service is ready for prime time, but at the moment we're at loss for a better option that serves both our need for instant gratification and packrat mentality at the same time.
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: December 27, 2008
To no one's surprise, activity was extremely light on the FiOS TV expansion front this week. With Christmas Day falling on Thursday, Verizon only found time to announce that two more New York communities are one step closer to having access. The town of Carmel and the village of Hewlett Harbor have both granted video franchises to the carrier, which should mean that access will be available in short order. We also heard that Troutdale, Oregon approved a video franchise from the operator earlier this week, but outside of that, all's quiet on the FiOS TV front. Call it a hunch, but we don't expect next week to be much more eventful.
Government-built FTTH project nearly ready for launch in Lafayette, Louisiana
In just a few weeks, Cox Communications will be battling for pay-TV dollars with a new rival. But the opponent won't be sporting the usual private enterprise face; instead, it'll be donning a governmental badge. The Lafayette Utilities System in the fine state of Louisiana has long made known that it was working on a FTTH project that would one day deliver HDTV programming and high-speed internet to local homes and businesses. The rollout is expected to occur in four phases, with everything being complete by 2011. Oddly enough, there are still few details to be had even though the initial rollout phase is slated for January, with LUS Director Terry Huval simply stating that "at the time we're ready to serve customers, we'll also make public our pricing packages." Well then, we guess that settles it.
AT&T strings U-verse TV to Columbia, South Carolina
Awake, Gamecock Nation! We know you're already packing up the tailgating gear to head for the Outback Bowl, but you've an important decision to make beforehand. Along with Birmingham and Nashville, the great city of Columbia, South Carolina will also get its first taste of U-verse TV this week. Starting today, select parts of the city will be able to order up the outfit's fiber-based programming service, though no details about which areas were given. You know what that means -- time to make a phone call whilst crossing your fingers.
Nashville, TN grabs AT&T's U-verse TV this week
AT&T just announced that its U-verse services would be introduced in Birmingham, Alabama this week, and it's evidently making a similar rollout across Middle Tennessee. We've been hearing that AT&T was looking to infiltrate the Volunteer State for months on end, and at long last we're finding out that those whispers were legit. According to a recent article in The Tennessean, select parts of Nashville and Middle Tennessee will become the first areas in the state to receive U-verse TV and high-speed internet. The best part of all of this is that AT&T has successful acquired a statewide license to lay service, meaning that it could very well hit more areas in short order. In fact, the operator has already vowed to expand U-verse to "about 60 cities and numerous counties" over the next two years, with "Chattanooga, Memphis, Knoxville and some rural areas" named in particular.[Thanks, anonymous]
Birmingham, Alabama becomes next city to get AT&T's U-verse TV
The siege is on. A mere seven months after AT&T first made clear that it was intent on making Alabama a U-verse state, we've learned within the past week that the services will be coming to Cullman and now Birmingham. Starting tomorrow, U-verse TV and high-speed internet will be available for ordering in select parts of the city, just a week before the Wolfpack of NC State treks down to trample the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. Stay patient, Alabama -- AT&T's lines should be headed to your hood within the next little while.
AT&T finalizes deal to bring U-verse to Cullman, AL
We knew that AT&T was moving in hot and heavy in an attempt to make Alabama its home turf, and now it looks like the plan is beginning to succeed. A recent writeup in The Cullman Times asserts that the deed has been done and that "Cullman, AL residents will soon have their first taste of cable competition." Mayor Max Townson along with the city council "recently approved the final contract agreement with AT&T to provide cable services to city residents," and when said service arrives, it will battle against local mainstay Time Warner Cable for those hard-earned pay-TV dollars. Sadly, no exact launch date was provided, but we are told that the contract will allow AT&T to "turn it on within the next six months to a year."
Swisscom places large FTTH order, world waits in wonder
We're no experts in dark fiber procurement, but when an outfit such asSwisscom places a massive fiber-to-the-home order with technology firm Huber+Suhner, we begin to assemble what pieces our feeble minds will allow. Reportedly, the order is indeed intended to extend Swisscom's fiber dominance directly into the home, making possible the deliverance of HDTV programming and high-speed internet. Obviously, H+S is staying pretty mum on the details, but those in Swisscom territory should certainly be on the lookout for something new in your 'hood here shortly.
