Verizon reveals plan to launch 150 HD channels by the end of '08

by Ben Drawbaugh, posted Nov 1st 2007 at 2:21PM

Verizon FIOS customers have been feeling left out of the great HD race lately. Sure they have access to some of the fastest Internet connections in the US, but at a time when other providers are adding HD goodness in record number, FIOS customers only got one new HD channel in the past six months. Well the big V has finally broken its silence and promises that starting in the spring it'll deliver more 60 new HD channels, -- on a market by market basis -- and will have more than 150 HD channels by the end of 2008. Of course this begs the question, why is it going to take so long? Seriously, it's not like they have to wait for a satellite to launch or something. It's almost as if there's a limitation in their current infrastructure.

Filed under: Industry, Fiber, New content

Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, FIOS, Verizon

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highly Ranked

John B @ Nov 1st 2007 2:52PM

Yet there is no mention in their statement about what those channels are going to be. I'd love to get rid of Scamcast, but Verizon as of right now isn't allowed to offer FiOS TV in my area. (Thanks to the Comcast-bribed, Pennsylvania legislature.)

What they're offering right now doesn't seem to be any better than what I can currently get through Comcast. So, what are these other channels that they're supposed to be getting? I don't mind hearing that they're going to offer 150 HD channels, but what channels are they looking to add? Sports and multicultural channels? Yeah, okay, NAMES PLEASE???

Neutral

DeadPlasmaCell @ Nov 1st 2007 2:59PM

Damn.. I wish Comcast would get on the ball and get these 100+ HD channels everyone else is offering.. I'm glad for the new ones we just got last week.. but still! There's much more to offer! I'd switch to Dish, but I just don't want to spend a couple of hundred to get started.. oy

Neutral

christopher g @ Nov 1st 2007 3:43PM

John B, I believe you may be in luck as a federal bill was passed that goes into effect next month that makes it illegal for cable companies to hold a monopoly over apartment buildings or regional areas. It may just help some to push toward more change with other "laws" that limit access to services.

Neutral

christopher g @ Nov 1st 2007 3:46PM

or maybe it was a state related issue in California. I'd better double check that..

Neutral

John B @ Nov 1st 2007 4:02PM

Thanks, Chris, but they've been in negotiations with my borough for a while anyway. I'm supposed to have FiOS TV in Q1 2008 if everything goes as planned. It's not a major issue because the only HD channels that I watch are Discovery HD and National Geographic. (For me, sports channels are a total waste of bandwidth and testosterone.)

I just want Verizon to at least say what channels they're looking to give to us. Vague promises don't impress me. For all I know one of those channels will be something like "Golden Gate HD -- a HD camera focused on the Golden Gate bridge 24/7!! It's like you're right there in San Francisco!" :/

Neutral

jim @ Nov 1st 2007 5:18PM

What the heck is going on with Time Warner!

Neutral

gparris @ Nov 6th 2007 1:32PM

Time Warner the company is doing just fine:
Its publishing side (TIME) is excellent, in my book (literally).
Warner Bros. is an fine media company for Television, DVDs (SD and HD) and movies.
Time Warner Cable is the ugly stepchild, IMO and it needs to be sold or remanaged into a viable commodity that responds to the needs of its HD subscribers both in terms of quantity and quality of products (HD DVRs with Navigator) and services/pricing.
Will TWCable get its "act together" and finally distribute more HD channels to all its locations?
Its anyone's guess...it will have to, eventually, or be bought out.

Highly Ranked

GhostDoggy @ Nov 2nd 2007 6:57AM

But, unless your are a) in Verizon territory, and b) in a Fios neighborhood, then this is 100% USDA worthless.

BTW, I am planning on delivering 1,000,000 channels in high definition by the end of 3008, but the same kind of rules apply--and none of you live in my make-believe world (clinically insane).

Neutral

C @ Nov 3rd 2007 7:09PM

Ghostdoggy,

I'll take choice c) none of the above described stupidity.

There are over a million subscribers, with availability in over 16 states. Ergo this short article is very worthwhile and and there are plenty who may be interested to learn this information.

If your basis for value of [internet] articles is solely dependent upon whether the information contained within directly pertains to your consumer spending habits (or any other aspect of your insulated life), than you must have a very rough time getting through the smallest of web sites. Can you even make it through the first page of a newspaper?

It's even more amazing that someone such as yourself would take the time to post a comment about it and make a [poor] attempt at cleverness too.

Neutral

2ndDue @ Nov 6th 2007 5:34PM

150 HD channels and still no NHL Center Ice or MLB Extra Innings?

Neutral

blah @ Nov 8th 2007 3:20PM

What good is all the great new HD channels when all the broadcasters pollute the screen with station logos, tickers, and annoying commercial overlays of Monk? Come on people, we are paying good money for our TV service. There needs to be a viewers bill or rights where we can take back our screen so we can enjoy TV once again! I would rather rent a DVD.

Neutral

peter benjamin @ Nov 13th 2007 4:07PM

FIOS is delivering to HD what Cable cant do because of Bandwidth issues. Everyone sees HD and thinks that 16 by 9 is HD. If you deliver crap in HD then its Crap. I will be launching a channel on FIOS in 2008 which will be shot in HD and delivered in HD then you will see the difference. Cable lets you think its a privelidge to deliver content on their networks. Soon everyone will switch to FIOS because their content is better. Stay on the look out for Benteractive we are coming with several really neat program platforms from HIP HOP in HD To Religious HD.

Neutral

Robert @ Dec 2nd 2007 4:31AM

Well, there is your answer on what type of new HD channels to expect - Religion and Hip Hop.

Neutral

Sounder @ Dec 14th 2007 3:39PM

Religion and hip hop?

Anyone want to buy a home theater setup for cheap? If that what it's coming to, I'm getting an 8mm projector.

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