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story category FiOSTV Hits 100HD Channels In All Markets
Also offers new HD DVR promo...
(old news - 09:01AM Monday Jan 12 2009)
tags: prices · business · telco · Verizon FIOS
Verizon says they're ringing in the new year by offering new customers either a FiOSTV high-definition DVR or an HD home media DVR free for six months. According to the telco, the deal should save you between $95 and $119, depending on which DVR users select. The company has also announced that they now officially offer 100 HD channels in every market where FiOSTV is available. Verizon notes that 1.6 million customers now subscribe to FiOSTV, which is available for sale to more than 8.2 million homes and small businesses in 14 states.

Related:
  1. Tracking FiOS TV Bundle Price Changes
  2. Tampa Tribune Highlights FiOS Billing Problems
  3. Verizon Raising FiOS Prices Again Soon
  4. Verizon Confusing FiOS Customers Under Contract
  5. 50Mbps, 20/20Mbps FiOS Tiers Hit All Markets
  6. Verizon Reports Largest FiOS Additions To Date
  7. Verizon To Offer $5 Landline Service
  8. Verizon Announces New FiOS Tiers, Promotions
Forums » FiOSTV Hits 100HD Channels In All Markets
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GOLFnSUN
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If Verizon can provide a shareable DVR, why not Comcast ?

The Verizon Fios home media DVRs are Motorola boxes - the same that Comcast uses. Why can't Comcast FINALLY roll out this feature to their customers. They can't use the excuse that software isn't available.
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baineschile
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Re: If Verizon can provide a shareable DVR, why not Comcast ?

Comcast (and all cable companies for that matter) are pushing for a Network DVR, where they put in zetabytes of storage at each node, and when you record, it acually records offsite. This would make the DVR feature available to all STB, not just the HD-DVRs they sell.

It is a realtivly cheap endeavour as well, as just adding memory is not too costly. The problem? Thank the gold ol' MPAA and a few Network TV distributors.. They dont want their "content to be able to be pirated at an offsite location".

If you search some articles on here, I believe Cox or Clearwire are battling with them in court right now.

N3OGH
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It's a technology issue.

Comcast's TV signal comes in over coax that's still attached to Comcast's system.

Verizon's TV comes from the ONT at the subscriber's house. The ONT, for lack of a better term, acts as a mini head end. The entire spectrum of that coax is made available for the DVR and digital boxes to talk to each other.

This is what makes time travel possible...
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GOLFnSUN
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Re: If Verizon can provide a shareable DVR, why not Comcast ?

Comcast is also part of the MOCA alliance that allows distribution of video between STBs. This is what Verizon uses and what Comcast says they will use. When is the key question.

»www.mocalliance.org/en/aboutus/faq.asp#1
MoCA is an open, standard body promoting networking of multiple streams of high definition video and entertainment using existing coaxial cable already in the home.

MoCA is the standard for home entertainment networks over coax. We call it multiroom DVR. It is applicable for television programming, gaming, content sharing, and PC to TV and back again, transfer of content.

MoCA is led by a board of directors (Promoters) representing some of the most-respected names in broadband entertainment including Broadcom, Cisco, Cox Communications, Comcast, EchoStar, Entropic Communications, Motorola, NXP, Panasonic and Verizon.

MoCA is in full deployment through Verizon's FiOS TV program. Many other cable and telco service providers will be entering into trials and field tests in 2008.
Verizon's ONT isn't necessary to do multi-room DVR.
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N3OGH
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Re: If Verizon can provide a shareable DVR, why not Comcast ?

I didn't say an OTN was necessary, I don't think you understand the issue well.

The coax used inside a Comcast subscriber's home is directly connected to Comcast's network. The coax in a Verizon subscriber's home is not. The idea that the ONT is there, is MOOT.

Comcast will have to implement some way of isoloating the set top boxes in the subscriber's house from the rest of their network in order to make this work for them. Otherwise, too much bandwidth will be eaten up by DVR boxes talking to each other.
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Vchat20
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Warren, OH
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Re: If Verizon can provide a shareable DVR, why not Comcast ?

said by N3OGH See Profile :

I didn't say an OTN was necessary, I don't think you understand the issue well.

The coax used inside a Comcast subscriber's home is directly connected to Comcast's network. The coax in a Verizon subscriber's home is not. The idea that the ONT is there, is MOOT.

Comcast will have to implement some way of isoloating the set top boxes in the subscriber's house from the rest of their network in order to make this work for them. Otherwise, too much bandwidth will be eaten up by DVR boxes talking to each other.
What are you talking about? First of all, the RF signal passing through the ONT is still 2-way just like traditional HFC cable systems. For all intents and purposes, FiOS tv and Cable systems are the exact same thing, just the fiber-to-coax media converter is moved right up to each house. Beyond that, same stuff. They are pushing the same bandwidth munching channels over, etc..

Secondly, technology has been available for a while now for cable providers to do whole home networked dvr's which consists of a specially designed switch connected where the cable enters the house and all dvr's run off that. No bandwidth issues or anything.

And bandwidth really isn't an issue. Really all you'd need is the equivalent of one channel per client STB to feed the video over. If they really wanted to be bandwidth-conscious, they could program the network dvr subsystem to allow up to 2 or 3 client STB's per channel (following the same 2-3 HD per QAM channel as the upstream cable plant, ~6 SD channels per, etc.) and then open a new one should more be added.
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N3OGH
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Re: If Verizon can provide a shareable DVR, why not Comcast ?

said by Vchat20 See Profile :

said by N3OGH See Profile :

I didn't say an ONT was necessary, I don't think you understand the issue well.

The coax used inside a Comcast subscriber's home is directly connected to Comcast's network. The coax in a Verizon subscriber's home is not. The idea that the ONT is there, is MOOT.

Comcast will have to implement some way of isoloating the set top boxes in the subscriber's house from the rest of their network in order to make this work for them. Otherwise, too much bandwidth will be eaten up by DVR boxes talking to each other.
What are you talking about? First of all, the RF signal passing through the ONT is still 2-way just like traditional HFC cable systems.
Not if the ONT doesn't pass the signals upstream, Einstein.

The ONT isolates the coax inside the house from the rest of the network, so instead of being part of the entire cable TV plant, per se (like the cable that's in a Comcast subscriber's house) the coax inside a Verizon subscriber's house is using RF via the coax all ready installed in the house.

The bottom line is, in a system where you can watch DVR stored content on another digital box in the house, it has to transmit RF energy to the other box.

In a pure coax fed cable environment, that transmission has to be filtered at the demarcation point so it doesn't pollute the outside system.

So, either Comcast (or any provider for that matter) has to install a filter that traps the frequency they're using to transmit the DVR content to another box.

Or, if you have a system that uses fiber to the demarc point, you simply program the NID, whatever that may be, in Verizon's case an ONT to IGNORE IT.

Either way, the RF energy the DVR box is using to transmit content to another box must be stopped at the demarc point...
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Vchat20
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clubs:

Re: If Verizon can provide a shareable DVR, why not Comcast ?

And that is the whole reason for the aforementioned specialized splitter that HAS been available in addition to networked dvr's being available to cableco's for years now.

Comcast, Time Warner, etal have all had the ability to do it. They just haven't.

N3OGH
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Re: If Verizon can provide a shareable DVR, why not Comcast ?

I totally agree....

FTTC

join:2008-10-01
Mount Rainier, MD

1.6

1.6 million out of 8.2 million wtf. about 7 million people are missing the best service on earth. retards I tell ya's

NOCMan
Verizon Fios User
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Flower Mound, TX

Re: 1.6

Agreed. Either Verizon is not being aggressive enough, or there are actually that many people locked into contract with other carriers.

Eat Me

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Re: 1.6

said by NOCMan See Profile :

Agreed. Either Verizon is not being aggressive enough, or there are actually that many people locked into contract with other carriers.
Or some people are happy with their current provider and don't wish to change. Believe it or not, some people get stuck in the same routine for years and get all they need, so they don't see the need to upgrade to the best and the latest.

bender
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Re: 1.6

they could be like me and just not have an hd tv to use the hd tv programming aspects. don't get me wrong i'd hop on that internet service they got in a heartbeat.
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Ahrenl

join:2004-10-26
North Andover, MA

Re: 1.6

I don't have an HDTV. The TV experience is better, and, more importantly for most people, CHEAPER.

Eat Me

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Re: 1.6

said by Ahrenl See Profile :

I don't have an HDTV. The TV experience is better, and, more importantly for most people, CHEAPER.
How is it better?

I used to think my SDTV was great until I got a HDTV. Only then did I realize what I was missing.
JPL
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West Chester, PA
·Verizon FIOS

said by bender See Profile :

they could be like me and just not have an hd tv to use the hd tv programming aspects. don't get me wrong i'd hop on that internet service they got in a heartbeat.
Except that Verizon has more SD channels than any provider around here, and the PQ of those channels on my SD TV is astounding. You're also right about the internet service - definitely the best going. No download caps, no throttling, and no slow periods (I get 20+Meg down everytime I test it - no matter what time day or night), and totally rock solid - I've had one short outage in 3 years.

bender
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Re: 1.6

i'd invade a small country to have fios on my desktop.

Eat Me

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said by JPL See Profile :

Except that Verizon has more SD channels than any provider around here, and the PQ of those channels on my SD TV is astounding. You're also right about the internet service - definitely the best going. No download caps, no throttling, and no slow periods (I get 20+Meg down everytime I test it - no matter what time day or night), and totally rock solid - I've had one short outage in 3 years.
Most people aren't technophiles. There are people still watching analog TV from an off air antenna. They aren't going to care about FiOS and its hundreds of channels?

Most of my TV watching is on the networks (Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, MyNetwork, CW) and 24 hour news channels. Maybe occasionally Discovery and Comedy Central. Most people have similar viewing habits. In fact I don't know anyone who has time to watch all of those those channels.

I would very much like some sort of a la carte service. If FiOS offered that it would probably attract a lot of people.

X Cablevision

@verizon.net
I'll second that! Blows Cable away.

PGHammer

join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD
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Ever heard of the *comfort factor*?

Some folks won't switch because they don't want STBs (even the DCT-7xx minis that VZ uses at the lowest end) attached to every TV, and are quite willing to pay MORE to avoid them. (Yes you read that right, so get your jaw off the floor.)

It's generally a LOT easier to do absolutely nothing, even if you're getting ripped off.

Eat Me

join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

Re: 1.6

CableCARDS were supposed to mean the end of STBs. Too bad it didn't catch on.

LeftOfSanity

join:2005-11-06
Felton, DE

What Channels?

What are the channels?

Arent the channels pretty much the same across providers?

I mean besides the locals, you have your regulars like MTA,VH1,A&E, FoodTV, HBO, Sho, Starz, TMC, Skin-a-max, are they just making those HD or are they new channels?
ITALIAN926

join:2003-08-16
Stratford, CT

1 edit

Re: What Channels?

If you like 1 HD movie channel from HBO, SHO, STARZ ECT, by all means , keep your cable company . If you want like 6 HD channels from each, move to FiOS !


LeftOfSanity

join:2005-11-06
Felton, DE

Re: What Channels?

said by ITALIAN926 See Profile :

If you like 1 HD movie channel from HBO, SHO, STARZ ECT, by all means , keep your cable company . If you want like 6 HD channels from each, move to FiOS !


Well the Comcast system here already has the multiple Premium channels. You get like 10 HBO's 8 SHO's etc etc.

So fios isnt special there. I was wondering what the 100 channels were.
coolpfeif

join:2004-10-19
Arlington, VA

Re: What Channels?

Do you get 10 HBO channels in HD? That was the comment. I only get 1 HBO HD.

LeftOfSanity

join:2005-11-06
Felton, DE

Re: What Channels?

said by coolpfeif See Profile :

Do you get 10 HBO channels in HD? That was the comment. I only get 1 HBO HD.
How did I not get that? Lol!
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JPL
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West Chester, PA
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said by LeftOfSanity See Profile :

said by ITALIAN926 See Profile :

If you like 1 HD movie channel from HBO, SHO, STARZ ECT, by all means , keep your cable company . If you want like 6 HD channels from each, move to FiOS !


Well the Comcast system here already has the multiple Premium channels. You get like 10 HBO's 8 SHO's etc etc.

So fios isnt special there. I was wondering what the 100 channels were.
Here's a good comparison chart:

»www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthre···=1058081

Note, this only includes national channels. In addition to these, every market has local HD channels, as well as RSNs - right now I think we're up to ~105 HD channels for our market (I actually lost count).

GOLFnSUN
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Re: What Channels?

said by JPL See Profile :

Here's a good comparison chart:

»www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthre···=1058081

Note, this only includes national channels. In addition to these, every market has local HD channels, as well as RSNs - right now I think we're up to ~105 HD channels for our market (I actually lost count).
Thanks for the link. That shows HD coverage very well.
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Eat Me

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said by ITALIAN926 See Profile :

If you like 1 HD movie channel from HBO, SHO, STARZ ECT, by all means , keep your cable company . If you want like 6 HD channels from each, move to FiOS !


I haven't subbed to premium channels in years. They're just not worth the money to me anymore, IMO.

I would rather have the cable company or FiOS deliver more national non-premium HD channels rather than premiums.
JPL
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Re: What Channels?

said by Eat Me See Profile :

said by ITALIAN926 See Profile :

If you like 1 HD movie channel from HBO, SHO, STARZ ECT, by all means , keep your cable company . If you want like 6 HD channels from each, move to FiOS !


I haven't subbed to premium channels in years. They're just not worth the money to me anymore, IMO.

I would rather have the cable company or FiOS deliver more national non-premium HD channels rather than premiums.
I was like that too, but FiOS actually has great prices on their movie pack. I'm still grandfathered into my original cost of $13/month, but even the current price (I think it's gone up $1) is a great price for what you get. That gets you access to all the Starz, Showtime, TMC, Encore, Flix, IFC, and Sundance channels (some 47 SD channels in all), as well as all the corresponding HD channels and VOD. HBO and Cinemax are priced higher, and are separate from the movie pack, but they're very much in line with other providers.

Eat Me

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Re: What Channels?

said by JPL See Profile :

said by Eat Me See Profile :

said by ITALIAN926 See Profile :

If you like 1 HD movie channel from HBO, SHO, STARZ ECT, by all means , keep your cable company . If you want like 6 HD channels from each, move to FiOS !


I haven't subbed to premium channels in years. They're just not worth the money to me anymore, IMO.

I would rather have the cable company or FiOS deliver more national non-premium HD channels rather than premiums.
I was like that too, but FiOS actually has great prices on their movie pack. I'm still grandfathered into my original cost of $13/month, but even the current price (I think it's gone up $1) is a great price for what you get. That gets you access to all the Starz, Showtime, TMC, Encore, Flix, IFC, and Sundance channels (some 47 SD channels in all), as well as all the corresponding HD channels and VOD. HBO and Cinemax are priced higher, and are separate from the movie pack, but they're very much in line with other providers.
Their prices are $15.99/month for HBO. My cable provider gets it for $14/month. DirecTV has it for the same price (and has a lot of the same channels as FiOS).

Skinamax et al are $1 more on FiOS than they are on cable.

While it's nice they can provide the additional channels, it seems to be more expensive. Plus $16/month in this economy is a nice savings.

I guess it may be different for people who spend a lot of time in front of the TV, but for me not worth it.

PGHammer

join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD
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Re: What Channels?

If you count simply non-premium HD channels (Universal HD, TNT-HD, HD Theater, etc.) FIOS TV wins, and wins in a rout. The pay-TV services are majority-owned by Time Warner (a cable company) and CableVision (in the case of AMC). Also, according to you, the difference is a mere $1/month/service for the premium/pay-TV channels; what's the difference for the non-premium channels? Or is there another reason you don't want to switch (like needing boxes attached to every TV; yes, some folks are actually using that logic)?

Eat Me

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Sussex, NJ
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Re: What Channels?

I can't switch to FiOS. Not offered in my area, and we are embarq territory so it probably won't get here anytime soon.

I'd switch if I could so I could get 2 per QAM HD. My current cable provider (Service Electric) is OK with its HD offerings but has a few channels on 3 per QAM here.

$1/month is still more than what DirecTV charges. But it's irrelevant to me anyway since I don't watch premium channels anymore. In fact I hardly even watch basic cable. I mostly watch the big 4.

jmn1207
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1 edit
said by LeftOfSanity See Profile :

What are the channels?
Here is what I had with Comcast:
WJLA-HD (ABC)
WRC-HD (NBC)
WUSA-HD (CBS)
WTTG-HD (FOX)
WDCW-HD (CW)
WDCA-HD
Science Channel HD

AMC HD
WETA-HD (PBS)
F/X HD
Fox News HD
A&E HD
National Geographic HD
HBO HD
HGTV HD
Food Network HD
TBS HD
Cinemax HD
CNN HD
USA HD
Sci-Fi HD
History Channel HD
Showtime HD
Discovery HD
TLC HD
Animal Planet HD
Speed Channel HD
Disney Channel HD
ABC Family HD
NFL HD
Starz HD
TNT HD
Universal HD
Comcast SportsNet HD
ESPN HD
ESPN2 HD
Versus/Golf Channel HD
Palladia HD



Here is what I now have with FiOS:
WJLA-HD (ABC)
WRC-HD (NBC)
WUSA-HD (CBS)
WTTG-HD (FOX)
WDCW-HD (CW)
WDCA-HD
Science Channel HD
WETA-HD (PBS)
F/X HD
Fox News HD
A&E HD
National Geographic HD
HBO HD
HGTV HD
Food Network HD
TBS HD
Cinemax HD
CNN HD
USA HD
Sci-Fi HD
History Channel HD
Showtime HD
Discovery HD
TLC HD
Animal Planet HD
Speed Channel HD
Disney Channel HD
ABC Family HD
NFL HD
Starz HD
TNT HD
Universal HD
Comcast SportsNet HD
ESPN HD
ESPN2 HD
Versus/Golf Channel HD
Palladia HD

MPT HD
WGN America HD
HD Net
ESPN U HD
ESPN News HD
Big Ten Network HD
NHL Network HD
Outdoor Channel HD
Tennis Channel HD
World Fishing Network HD
MAV TV HD
CNBC HD
Fox Business Network HD
The Weather Channel HD
Smithsonian Channel HD
Biography Channel HD
HD Theater
Lifetime HD
Lifetime Movie Network HD
QVC HD
HSN HD
Planet Green HD
Wealth TV HD
Travel Channel HD
Bravo HD
Hallmark Movie Channel HD
MGM HD
HD Net Movies
Toon Disney HD
Starz Edge HD
Starz Kids & Family HD
Starz Comedy HD
Encore HD
Showtime West HD
Showtime Showcase HD
Showtime Showcase West HD
Showtime 2 HD
Showtime 2 West HD
Showtime Extreme HD
Showtime Extreame West HD
The Movie Channel HD
The Movie Channel West HD
The Movie Channel Xtra HD
The Movie Channel Xtra West HD
HBO West HD
HBO 2 HD
HBO 2 West HD
HBO Signature HD
HBO Signature West HD
HBO Family HD
HBO Family West HD
HBO Comedy HD
HBO Comedy West HD
HBO Zone HD
HBO Zone West HD
Cinemax West HD
More Max HD
More Max West HD
Action Max HD
Action Max West HD
Thriller Max HD
Thriller Max West HD
WMAX HD
At Max HD
OuterMax HD



With FiOS, I am only missing the AMC HD channel in High Def, but I do have this channel is SD. A cable company owns this channel and is being stubborn about letting FiOS have it.

There are also about 6 or more new HD channels in my guide that are supposedly coming soon. (Comedy TV HD, Pets TV HD, Recipe TV HD, NBA HD, and a few others)

I have 50/20 internet speeds ($89.95) and the whole package is less than what I was paying for Comcast services.

Edit: Channels were placed in bold text that were on both services.

See 11 replies to this post
dragunkat

join:2008-12-09
Lake Oswego, OR

nice deal, too bad i can't have it

Comcast is paying to much to the politicians in my area for Verizon to get their tv here, but i do get FiOS internet. It's not all bad.

DirecTed



stuck on DirecTV

hmmm tempting, but I have 2 DirecTV-connected ReplayTVs and DVArchive that lets me watch those replays on any of 5 computers without any monthly charges, including wirelessly, and my replays have hundreds of hours of DVR capacity. I can download from the Replays and save to DVD with little effort and good quality. If only VZ would put one of today's 1.5TB disks in their DVR so I could take it seriously.
Still, tempting. going to work the numbers ...
Forums » FiOSTV Hits 100HD Channels In All Markets


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