Verizon and Comcast exchange words on HD options in Philadelphia

by Darren Murph posted Dec 9th 2008 at 6:12PM

And by "exchange words," we mean "get seriously agitated and spout off at one another." As Verizon comes down the home stretch on a deal that would give it a 15-year agreement to offer programming services in the City of Brotherly Love, rival Comcast is quaking in its boots. After proclaiming that a huge chunk of Verizon's HD options were just "program fillers on blow-drying hair, kissing, grilling a hamburger, folding a pillowcase, chopping garlic, and other mundane topics," Verizon hit back by insinuating that Comcast was just "desperate." In a fit of stupidity, Comcast produced figures showing that it had a total of 1,304 HD choices in the area compared to Verizon's 1,057; what it failed to mention was the 37 versus 104 (respectively) number that describes the huge gap in linear HD channels between the two carriers. Oh Comcast, when will you ever stop making yourself look silly?

[Via BroadbandReports]

Filed under: Cable, Fiber, New content

Tags: comcast, fios, fios tv, FiosTv, pennsylvania, Philadelphia, project infinity, ProjectInfinity, verizon

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highest Ranked

John B @ Dec 9th 2008 7:25PM

I (finally) just got FiOS TV and got rid of Scamcast. The number of HD channels is *amazing*. There were even channels that I never knew existed, whether in SD or HD. It's awesome to have the Smithsonian HD and BBC World News, twice the radio stations, and the layout of Verizon's channels is far more logical. You want the HD version of an SD channel? Add 500 to the channel. That's it. Verizon's set-top boxes are more responsive, too.

The only thing thatpissed me off is that you have to use Verizon's router, and it *SUCKS*! It does NOT allow incoming firewall holes, even though it claims that it does, and the set-top boxes *MUST* be 192.168.1. I eventually had to redo my network so that it's 192.168.2 with the Verizon router as a child network so that the set-top boxes could connect to the Internet while still using a router that actually *works* like its supposed to. >:( Other than that, Ilove FiOS TV.

Sorry for sounding like a commercial. I'm just thrilled that I finally got rid of Comcast.

Neutral

CMCS SUX @ Dec 10th 2008 9:06AM

As a former employee I will tell you that Comcast is scared. The desperate attempt to scam the public with "1000 HD choices" is a joke. Verizon has more HD channels and faster internet - that's what most consumers are looking for.

If you want a great deal on FiOS with a cash back offer email me at spider4re@yahoo.com and I will give you my contacts name. Anything to help Verizon crush those arrogant jerks.

Highly Ranked

ne01 @ Dec 10th 2008 3:36PM

As a former Comcrap subscriber in the Philly area I feel exactly the same way. I always wondered how Comcast could claim to have more HD... So that's how. They count their VOD since they only have 37 HD channels vs. FiOS's 100+. Seriously Comcast is a joke.

Just like you said, FiOS has (WAY) more HD channels and much faster internet, for less money. It's a no-brainer. Oh, and the HD quality is better too:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1008271

And on the router, there are ways to set things up so you don't have to use their router:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r17679150-Howto-make-ActionTec-MI424WR-a-network-bridge

Neutral

tony @ Dec 9th 2008 7:55PM

Nevermind the fact, i have verizon fios, and they only charge ONE price for ALL thier HD channels unlike RCN and Comcast where u have to pay more for different HD options. Hum, thats a hard one, 45.00 for all HD channels on fios, or 45 for basic HD on competiters + anohter 15-20 for another set of 10 hd channels that suck, and more for good hd channels

Neutral

H Choi @ Dec 9th 2008 8:01PM

I despise Comcast with a passion. You couldn't pay me to use their service.

Neutral

Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Dec 10th 2008 12:32AM

Go Verizon! They're service is excellent. I'm can't wait for them to get Spike, Nickelodeon, and Fuel in HD.

Highly Ranked

LB @ Dec 10th 2008 8:52AM

Go Verizon! Screw cable. Those scumbags have been robbing us for thirty years. The only reason they're even adding anything is because of competition from FIOS. Comcast uses higher compression too so all HD channels are not equal.

Neutral

VAFiOSSubscriber @ Dec 10th 2008 10:24AM

As a new FiOS Subscriber, I can confirm that those bizarre how-to videos exist, and there are lots of them. Sorry, but I was never looking for a video service that would teach me how to shave.

I learned the hard way (and I really wish I'd seen this site before I jumped on the FiOS bandwagon) -- what I am really after isn't 11 linear Cinemax HD channels. I want to be able to watch my favorite shows whenever I want.

And a good video-on-demand service does exactly that. Being able to record the west coast feed is better than missing a program altogether, but it pales in comparison to the advantages of VOD. And don't get me started on having to reset my favorites after the channel lineup is re-shuffled to accomodate the 13th HBO HD channel.

Neutral

RocoRoco @ Dec 10th 2008 10:27AM

Sorry folks -- didn't realize that HTML tags are inactive. Here's the site I had referred to in the above post: http://www.dontfallforthefioshdmirage.com

Neutral

The Fuzz 53 @ Dec 10th 2008 10:47AM

These two jerkoff companies need to reallocate the money they are wasting on this BS marketing. Comcast should take that money and put it into network upgrades and Verizon should take it and put it into customer service and billing.

Neutral

recon @ Dec 10th 2008 9:21PM

I'm not trying be a "funny guy" or anything, but i don't understand the comment or wording here:

"what it failed to mention was the 37 versus 104 (respectively) number that describes the huge gap in linear HD channels between the two carriers."

can anyone explain? thanx

Neutral

ne01 @ Dec 11th 2008 12:29AM

Recon,

What it means is this:

1) Comcast has 37 HD channels.
2) FiOS has 104 HD channels.
3) To make people think that Comcast has more HD than FiOS, Comcast counts all their HD OnDemand content as "choices" along with their 37 channels and says "We have more HD choices than FiOS." They don't mention how the two numbers they're comparing were calculated and mislead Joe Consumer into thinking that Comcast has more HD channels than FiOS.

Final Fantasy XIII announcement possibly due on Nov. 13 EA Sports MMA gameplay footage revealed during Strikeforce match Nintendo 'hasn't committed' to new Zelda for Wii in 2010	HTML5 YouTube viewer: close, but not quite there Photoshop.com Mobile now available for Android devices Jailbroken iPhones in Australia getting Rickrolled by a worm
Brenthaven: The best computer backpack I've ever seen Is the Magic Mouse a dog? First look: Viewfinder supercharges Flickr search	Sunday Funnies: Barron's predicting profits? Entrepreneur's Journal: Putting together a solid sales contract Walmart, Amazon now slash DVD prices: What's next?
Reminder: Watch the first episode of Halo Legends today [update: It's gone] Homemade Fallout 3 Shishkebab, make 'em now before the apocalypse Gears of War 2 celebrates first anniversary with triple XP	SEMA 2009 Worst of Show: This car stinks... The Tony Fox "Proud American" and "Bonneville Boss" Rocket Truck High Speed, High Fashion: Izod secures deal as IndyCar title sponsor
The Best of Big Download: November 2-8 BioWare's Neverwinter Nights downloadable modules no longer available PC Modern Warfare 2 can't be played until Tuesday, even if you get it early	Bucs Find Old-School Mojo in New QB Patriots Taking Control in AFC East Mike Holmgren on Cleveland's Radar