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Verizon announces FiOS TV for North Andover, Massachusetts
If it's not New York, it's Massachusetts -- well, with Oregon thrown in every now and then to keep up appearances. You guessed it -- Verizon is lighting up yet another town in the Bay State, this time heading almost to New Hampshire in order to do so. The latest city in MA to approve a cable franchise for Verizon is North Andover, though there's no word on when the outfit will actually start accepting orders. Keep those phones ringing, though.
Verizon gets official with "at least 25" new FiOS TV HD channels
As if it wasn't official enough already, Verizon has just loosed a fresh release confirming that those channels we sniffed out yesterday are indeed coming soon. Officially, the operator is aiming to add over 60 new channels to the FiOS TV lineup "this summer," with "at least 25 in HD." As predicted, it reiterated its intentions to have "up to 150 HD channels" by the year's end, and while we aren't told what regions will see the new content first, it does make mention that it will "roll out the new content, region by region, beginning by early July." Curiously, Verizon asserts that everyone should have 'em within a few months of the initial launch, but the total quantity of available HD channels will be "between 52 and 65, depending on the customer's location." For lots more on what material is just over the horizon, hit the read link and give those eyes a workout.
Damascus next Oregon town to receive FiOS TV
You downtown Portland residents must be cringing right now. Shortly after Happy Valley received word that FiOS TV was on the way, yet another locale on the outskirts of town is getting the same notification. Damascus is one step closer to having yet another option when it comes to programming, as the City Council voted to grant Verizon a cable franchise just this week. At this rate, the entire city of Portland will be surrounded with this stuff in a matter of months, but we all know how Verizon is about infiltrating actual metropolises.
Rumor confirmed: FiOS TV to add 27 new HD channels in July
Although rumors from well respected forum posters give us a good reason to get excited, there's nothing quite like getting confirmation from the source. The linked PDF is the FiOS lineup that will be effective next month in Portland and includes 27 new HD channels not currently available to FiOS customers. As you might expect, Verizon had to really shuffle up the lineup -- posted after the jump -- to add this many channels, which now includes just about every HD channel anyone would want; like eight premium movie channels and all the latest cable channels like Sci Fi HD and CNN HD. These new channels will really help propel FiOS from last to first in regards to HD quantity, by over doubling the number of HD channels offered. Unfortunately, there's no word on when the rest of the FiOS customers will have access to these channels, but if you live in a FiOS area, and the analog channels are already gone, there's a good chance they'll come sooner, rather than later. [Warning: PDF read link][Via TampaHDTV.com]
Verizon loops FiOS TV to three more New York communities
Residents of Babylon, Roslyn and Manorhaven can all thank their lucky stars, as Verizon has just selected you all to keep the FiOS TV expansion alive and cranking in New York. All three locales approved agreements giving the carrier the right to offer its fiber-based TV service, with just a final thumbs-up to be given by the New York State Public Service Commission. As is customary with these type announcements, Verizon isn't serving up an estimated launch time frame, but it ought not be too long now.
Taunton, Massachusetts next to receive Verizon's FiOS TV
Another locale in Massachusetts in line to receive FiOS TV? It just can't be! All sarcasm aside, another city in the Bay State is in fact waiting in tense anticipation to have the recently approved Verizon agreement lead to something tangible. Residents of Taunton can thank Mayor Charles Crowley for granting the operator a cable franchise, bringing the total amount of Massachusetts communities where Verizon's FiOS TV is or will soon be available to 71. According to Crowley, "the signing of this agreement will mean that the citizens of Taunton will have a choice for their cable TV needs, and the competitive environment that will exist here in Taunton will ensure that our families will realize competitive prices as well." Now, the unknown wait for service to actually become available begins.
Verizon preparing to enable internet scheduling for FiOS TV
Verizon's hoping to give prospective FiOS TV subscribers yet another reason to come on board with its new FiOS TV Central website. Currently, the newly launched portal "allows customers to use any desktop or laptop computer to review their local TV schedules and information about video-on-demand (VOD) and pay-per-view offerings." All that's well, fine and good, but the real meat is in the future. "Soon," customers will be able to program their DVR from the web, ensuring that you'll never miss a recording should you remember ahead of time and be anywhere near an internet connection. C'mon Verizon, stop teasing!
Verizon gearing up for FiOS TV launch in Mar Vista, California?
Take this one for what it's worth, but a resident in Mar Vista, California (just outside of Santa Monica) recently received quite the curious flier from Verizon. Granted, we're not talking Comcast bizarre or anything, but a note left outside of his door informed him that his trees may need to be trimmed in order for fiber optic cabling to be ran. When the process was complete, he was told he could expect "clearer phone calls, faster internet and TV service from Verizon." We aren't betting the farm on this one just yet, but considering the feverish pace at which the company is expanding its FiOS services, we wouldn't be surprised one bit to hear something official in the not-too-distant future.[Thanks, Jeff]
Starz Play broadband video service comes to Verizon
Starz Entertainment's own broadband video service is doing a special little jig for Verizon's customers, as the two companies have just inked a "comprehensive, multi-year agreement that will bring exclusive hit movies from Starz to Verizon's more than 8.5 million broadband subscribers and the full array of Starz products to Verizon's FiOS TV and FiOS internet / DSL customers." Of course, folks interested will still have to fork over $5.99 per month to access the subscription based service, but at least you can do so with the knowledge that "exclusive content" will soon be at your fingertips. Moving on, the two also expanded their current FiOS TV affiliation agreement, with the new deal securing delivery of all 16 Starz, Encore and MoviePlex premium channels, all of its HD channels and every VOD / HD VOD outlet. Now that's something we can really smile about.
Verizon gets one step closer to stringing FiOS TV to New York City
After Windexing our spectacles and finding that Verizon actually was on a mission to bring FiOS TV to New York City, we still yearned for more proof that a formidable opponent was indeed looking to take on TWC / Cablevision in the Big Apple. Announced today, NYC's Franchise and Concession Review Committee (FCRC) has "voted unanimously to approve a proposal by Verizon to provide TV service to all five boroughs of the city." From here, the proposed agreement "must be confirmed by the Mayor's Office of the City of New York and the New York State Public Service Commission." Mmm, so close you can taste it, can't you Manhattan?
Verizon to apply for FiOS TV permit in Fitchburg, Massachusetts
If you've been casually paying attention to just how much love Verizon is giving Massachusetts, you won't be shocked at all to learn that Mayor Lisa Wong has recently announced that said carrier "will apply for a permit to provide cable service to Fitchburg, a move she said could create more competition among cable and internet providers." According to Wong, she's looking forward to having more pressure on pricing in the area, but there's no time frame in which to count on FiOS TV arriving. All we know thus far is that the Fitchburg Cable Advisory Committee will be "called on to work with Verizon to determine the city's technological needs," so hopefully the details get worked out sooner rather than later.[Thanks, Lance]
Happy Valley, Oregon all set to receive Verizon's FiOS TV
As the competition heats up between Verizon and Comcast in the Greater Portland area, the former has just announced that Happy Valley -- located just southeast of Portland -- will be the next locale in the Beaver State to receive FiOS TV. Just this week the Happy Valley City Council voted to grant a franchise to Verizon, paving the way for its fiber-based television services to arrive in the city. Once rolled out, 18 communities in Oregon will have access to FiOS TV, though we're not given any sort of time frame in which to expect a launch date.
Verizon lassoes Kevin Garnett in to push FiOS
Merely months after Verizon managed to secure Michael Bay's talents to campaign for FiOS, the carrier has now snagged Celtics superstar Kevin Garnett to push its fiber-based services. The NBA big man is now starring in a 30-second spot for Verizon's FiOS, showing off just how much he adores the innovative Home Media DVR with multi-room recording playback capabilities (its words, not ours). First Frank Caliendo, then Mr. Bay, now KG -- who's next, Don King?
Verizon towing FiOS TV to Blasdell and Montebello, NY
Although the two towns are 379 miles apart by road (so says Google Maps, anyway), Montebello and Blasdell are about to have one more thing in common. Aside from both being located within the Empire State, the pair of locales are very close to seeing FiOS TV strung to residents. Both villages have approved agreements authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-based TV services, though we aren't told when the respective go-live dates are scheduled. Feel free to stay on the horn though, as both launches should occur in the near future.
Verizon bringing FiOS TV to more nooks in New York
Verizon's expanding its FiOS TV service once more, and once more it's the Empire State benefiting. Two more towns in Erie County will soon have access, as video franchises have just been approved in West Seneca and Tonawanda, while the Nassau County Village of Baxter Estates will too. Per usual, all three agreements must be given a final thumbs-up from the New York State Public Service Commission, but barring any unforeseen problems, FiOS TV should be available to the trio of locales in the near future.
Verizon facing fines for poor phone service, FiOS TV expansion partly to blame
Ruh roh. Seems that perpetual gripes down in Tampa Bay, Florida have finally amounted to something substantial. Just months after hearing a chorus of complaints about Verizon's lackluster customer service, we're now seeing that the carrier could face upwards of $6.5 million in fines for "willful and repeated lapses in Verizon's telephone service." Interestingly, it's reported that Verizon actually has fessed up to some service lapses, and it made a point to explain that it has been "simply overwhelmed with demand for the FiOS service." More specifically, it "acknowledged hiccups in repair service amid strong demand for its FiOS services," but has promised to bring things back up to par hastily. Tap the read link for more on the mess.
FiOS TV headed to Wesley Hills, New York
New York, also known as Verizon's FiOS TV playground, is getting yet another connected town. The Wesley Hills Village Board granted a video franchise to the carrier, ratcheting the number of FiOS TV-enabled communities in NY to 110. It's not mentioned exactly how many domiciles in the Rockland County town will have access to service, but hopefully the vast majority of you living there will be within reach when it goes live in the near future.
Massachusetts gets more FiOS TV: Rochester and Walpole welcomed in
Hot on the heels of Lakeville, Massachusetts getting word that it would be receiving Verizon's fiber-based television service comes news that two more Bay State communities will be joining it. Just this week, Verizon began offering up FiOS TV to some 8,500 households in Rochester and Walpole, and if you just so happen to call either of those locales home, you too can phone up the carrier and see if it's within reach. Meanwhile, we're waiting for the day that 100-percent of Massachusetts is FiOS-enabled -- which should happen in like, two months or so.
FiOS TV headed for Lakeville, Massachusetts
Somebody's thinking of you, Lakeville, and that somebody is Verizon. Hot on the heels of two announcements in the state of Virginia comes word that your quaint town will soon be the next to receive FiOS TV access. Just this week, the town approved a cable franchise enabling the carrier to offer its fiber-based TV service to some 4,000 households in the region. When things go live "soon," the Bay State will have 70 different communities that are FiOS TV-enabled, which most definitely makes those of us not situated in New England quite depressed.
Washington, D.C.'s mayor expects FiOS by "early 2009"
It's no secret that Comcast is the 800-pound behemoth in the Metro DC area, and while Verizon has been scattering its FiOS TV seeds all around the region, it has yet to really infiltrate Washington, D.C. proper. According to Mayor Adrian Fenty, all that could be changing. In a recent interview on NBC4, Mr. Fenty states that "negotiations are still ongoing," though things seemed to be moving more quickly than in "other jurisdictions." He continued on to say that he estimates the service (though he didn't specify FiOS TV, just "broadband capability") will be available to DCers "early next year." Of course, we've seen promise dates slip out before, so we wouldn't bet the farm on this coming to fruition just yet, but at least all that finger crossing hasn't been completely in vain, yeah?[Thanks, Jeevan]
