Trend Alert: Busy Parents Now Turning to Video-on-Demand for Safe, Affordable, Convenient Children's Entertainment

Trend Alert: Busy Parents Now Turning to Video-on-Demand for Safe, Affordable, Convenient Children's Entertainment

Most-Popular Verizon FiOS TV Free Video-on-Demand Titles

Show Parents Trust Interactive TV for Affordable, Family-Friendly Entertainment That Fits Their Busy Schedules

NEW YORK, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's busy parents are increasingly embracing interactive television to find family-friendly entertainment they can enjoy whenever their hectic schedules allow. This home-entertainment trend is reflected in the selections that Verizon FiOS TV subscribers are making from the thousands of titles in the service's free video-on-demand library. In February, the most popular titles were family fare.

"In February, we saw the continuation of a strong trend of families taking advantage of our free video-on-demand service to access kid-friendly entertainment," said Shawn Strickland, Verizon vice president of video solutions. "Because we're delivering FiOS TV over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network, straight to customer's doors, families are now able to access interactive video services that help them save time and money, and enjoy unparalleled picture quality and programming choices for all their TV viewing."

   In February, the most-watched free FiOS TV video-on-demand titles were:    1.  The Disney Channel's "Wizards of Waverly Place, Season 1: Episode 10:       Potion Commotion"   2.  The Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana, Season 2: Episode 1: Cuffs Will       Keep Us Together"   3.  The Disney Channel's "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Season 3: Episode       19: Foiled Again"   4.  Nickelodeon's "Backyardigans: Quest for the Flying Rock"   5.  Nickelodeon's "Dora the Explorer: School Pet"   6.  Nickelodeon's "Fairly OddParents: Baby Face"   7.  The Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana, Season 2: Episode 20: Bye Bye       Ball"   8.  Nickelodeon's "Dora the Explorer: Leon, The Circus Lion"   9.  The Disney Channel's "Minutemen"   10. Nickelodeon's "Diego: Chito and Rita Spectacled Bears"   

Strickland said that three key factors are driving family home- entertainment trends: affordability, safety and convenience.

"Families want to break away from video store membership dues, late fees and the hassles of squeezing in those trips to the rental store to pick up and return DVDs," he said. "They want entertainment that is instantly available, fits their budget and that they can trust to be family-friendly. FiOS TV's video-on-demand fits the bill."

Customers access video on demand simply by pressing the "VOD" or "On Demand" button on their remote control, by using a menu on FiOS TV's interactive media guide, or selecting the VOD channel.

Verizon's collection of on-demand programming for children and families is one of the largest in the industry and includes programming from Discovery Kids, Nickelodeon, PBS Kids Sprout and others. FiOS TV's industry-leading video-on-demand family programming also includes free content from the Disney Channel. In addition, FiOS offers parental controls that let parents decide what's off-limits for their kids.

In addition to family fare, Verizon offers its FiOS TV subscribers more than 10,000 video-on-demand titles each month, 60 percent of which are free. Also, subscribers to HBO, Cinemax or FiOS TV's Movie Package, which includes Showtime, Starz, the Movie Channel and Encore, automatically have on-demand access to past and present episodes of original programming and movie releases.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) , headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 66 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 235,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

Source: Verizon

CONTACT: Heather Wilner of Verizon, +1-212-321-8333 or
heather.b.wilner@verizon.com

Web site: http://www.verizon.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/618232.html

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Profile: International Entertainment