Verizon FiOS TV Delivers 100 High-Definition Channels to New Yorkers - on the Network Built for HD

Verizon FiOS TV Delivers 100 High-Definition Channels to New Yorkers - on the Network Built for HD

FiOS TV in New York Metro Area Now Offers More HD Channels Than Time Warner or Cablevision

New Sports and Multicultural Programming in Standard Definition Also Joins FiOS TV Lineup

NEW YORK, July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- America's biggest city now has the biggest high-definition (HD) TV lineup as Verizon today begins selling FiOS TV service to customers in New York City. As FiOS TV is launched here, the service will offer 100 HD channels, giving customers more HD than Time Warner or Cablevision.

The new channel lineup will also be offered to existing FiOS TV markets in the New York metropolitan area, including parts of Long Island, the suburbs just north of the city, and northern New Jersey.

(Note: See separate Verizon news release announcing Verizon's launch of FiOS TV in the New York metropolitan area. Also a press kit is available at http://newscenter.verizon.com/kit/fios-in-nyc/)

FiOS TV is delivered over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network straight to customers' homes and businesses, providing stunning picture and sound quality, more HD and video-on-demand (VOD) choices, a broad spectrum of content diversity, and interactive features that create the ultimate home entertainment experience.

"There's HD on FiOS and then there's everything else," said Shawn Strickland, vice president of video solutions for Verizon. "The immense capacity of our advanced network means FiOS TV customers receive HD signals just as Verizon receives them, without the additional compression that some cable companies perform. This means stunning picture-and-sound quality that's noticeably better, delivered on the network that's made for HD."

With 100 HD channels and 400 HD VOD titles offered each month, FiOS TV customers in the New York metro area now have more than 500 HD choices available at any time. The company plans to increase its monthly HD VOD titles to more than 1,000 by year-end. In addition, Verizon will continue expanding its HD channel lineup and by year-end will offer all available major HD programming.

Customers in the New York metro area who are FiOS TV-eligible can order FiOS TV by calling their local Verizon sales office or 888-438-3467 or visiting www.verizon.com/fiostv online. Customers in this market can bundle FiOS TV service with FiOS Internet service and the Verizon Freedom Essentials unlimited calling plan, with packages priced as low as $94.99 per month.

FiOS TV's New HD Channels Span Wide Diversity of Content

"Verizon's commitment to HD leadership is about more than just the large number of HD titles we offer; it's also about picture quality and providing a wide diversity of content," said Terry Denson, vice president - FiOS TV content and programming. "New York City is the nation's melting pot, and FiOS TV delivers an incredible range of programming that's global in scope."

FiOS TV customers in the New York metro area will get to see their favorite channels in HD, including Animal Planet, TLC, FX, USA, Bravo, TBS, History Channel, Weather Channel, Science Channel, SCI FI and Smithsonian Channel.

For those who want the best in news, Verizon is adding CNN, CNBC, Fox Business Network and Fox News Channel in HD. Viewers who watch home and leisure programming can now enjoy QVC, the Travel Channel and Planet Green, while kids can enjoy their favorite shows on the Disney Channel and Toon Disney - all in HD.

In addition, movie buffs now can get 11 new channels from Cinemax and 13 new channels from HBO in HD plus FiOS TV's Movie Package, which now includes 13 new HD channels from The Movie Channel, Starz and Showtime, including The Movie Channel Xtra, Starz Edge, Starz Comedy, Starz Kids and Family, Showtime, Showtime Showcase, Showtime Extreme and Showtime 2.

Sports fans will also get the best programming with four new HD sports channels:

-- Big Ten Network, which features top college basketball and football action.

-- Versus/Golf Channel, which features live events and original programming from Versus as well as PGA Tour and additional golf coverage.

-- Outdoor Channel 2, which provides programming that promotes traditional outdoor activities like fishing, hunting and shooting sports.

-- World Fishing Network, which provides recreational and sport fishing enthusiasts with an entertaining and comprehensive lineup that covers a wide range of programming.

New Standard-Definition Channels, Including Multicultural Content

In addition to the new HD content, Verizon has launched 7 new standard-definition channels in the New York metro area. New content includes RFD TV, Reelz, Current TV, Veria TV, WAPA TV and more. Verizon also is now offering a new standard-definition sports channel with Setanta Sports, a premium channel dedicated to bringing European and International soccer and rugby to U.S.-based fans. Currently, no other cable provider offers Setanta.

Verizon also soon will offer New York metro area customers 14 new multicultural channels, including leading channels for Arabic, Portuguese and Russian audiences, among others. These new channels continue to make FiOS TV an outlet for emerging and independent networks to showcase their diverse programming.

This content comes from WorldTV, a division of content management and delivery company GlobeCast, which previously signed a distribution deal with Verizon for top-tier international channels. The new GlobeCast WorldTV international television channels include MBT (Arabic), RTPI (Portuguese) and RTR Planeta (Russian). In addition to the WorldTV content, Verizon will also offer Filipino channel GMA Pinoy TV.

Verizon is in the process of launching new content in each of its FiOS TV markets, with many new channels already available in Oregon and Indiana. During the next few months, Verizon will be rolling out new content, region by region, in areas where FiOS TV is available.

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 more than 67 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 employed a diverse workforce of approximately 232,000 as of the end of the first quarter 2008 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.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:
http://www.verizon.com
http://www.verizon.com/fiostv

Source: Verizon

CONTACT: National, Heather Wilner, Verizon - FiOS TV, +1-212-321-8333,
heather.b.wilner@verizon.com, or Bobbi Henson, Verizon - FiOS TV,
+1-214-789-6483, bobbi.henson@verizon.com; or Local, Rich Young, Verizon - New
Jersey, +1-973-649-2279, richard.j.young@verizon.com, or John Bonomo, Verizon-
New York, +1-212-321-8033, john.j.bonomo@Verizon.com

Web Site: http://newscenter.verizon.com/kit/fios-in-nyc

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/094251.html

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Profile: International Entertainment