Verizon Bringing FiOS TV to More Areas in Western New York

Verizon Bringing FiOS TV to More Areas in Western New York

Company Continues to Expand Availability of FiOS Services in Existing Communities

BUFFALO, N.Y., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Residents and businesses in more areas in Western New York now have the opportunity to join the Verizon FiOS revolution that is sweeping the region.

Verizon recently began offering a bundled package of FiOS TV, FiOS Internet and wired, reliable voice services to consumers and businesses in parts of Blasdell, Kenmore and Lackawanna.

In addition, Verizon is spreading FiOS TV availability to more areas in the previously activated towns and villages of Amherst, Hamburg, Orchard Park, Tonawanda and West Seneca.

As a result of the FiOS expansion to new areas and extending the service deeper into areas where it is currently available, more than 17,000 additional households will now be able to choose Verizon's revolutionary all-fiber-optic services to supercharge the communications and entertainment network into their homes.

Verizon launched FiOS TV service in Western New York on Sept. 15, making the service initially available to some 62,000 homes.

"FiOS TV is a big hit in Western New York," said Chris Creager, Verizon's president for the Northeast region. "When consumers have an opportunity to choose, it's clear they are choosing Verizon's 100 percent fiber-optic technology over old-fashioned cable to bring them better TV, more high-definition channels, cable-busting Internet speeds and rock-solid voice services."

Door-to-door marketing and other sales activities have been taking place in all the communities in preparation for the introduction of FiOS TV. Verizon has staffed sales teams to familiarize residents with the new FiOS services, and is holding local events to sign up customers.

In addition, at all Buffalo Sabres home games at the HSBC Arena, Verizon has a sign-up table located on the Club Level, and Verizon's High Speed Zone kiosk is located in Section 117.

Verizon is the Western New York market leader in high definition (HD). FiOS TV offers more than 500 all-digital channels, including 103 HD channels in the market -- almost double the number offered by the local monopoly cable company, Time Warner.

By signing up for FiOS TV between now and Dec. 31, residents and businesses in the latest FiOS-enabled areas, as well as in other Western New York towns and villages that have the service, will enjoy free access for 90 days to three premium entertainment packages plus more than 9,000 free video-on-demand (VOD) titles per month. The packages are: Cinemax, HBO and FiOS TV's Movie Package.

This offer represents free access to 70 premium channels -- 40 of which are HD -- such as HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz, The Movie Channel, Encore, Sundance Channel and IFC, and includes more than 1,800 VOD titles. Customers who take advantage of the offer will enjoy access to 800 Hollywood blockbusters per month, HBO award-winning original series, movie premieres and World Championship Boxing.

   FiOS TV service highlights include:    --  More than 500 all-digital channels grouped by genres such as       entertainment, sports, news, shopping, movies and family, making it       easy for audiences to find their favorite programming.   --  A total of 103 HD channels in Western New York, with extraordinary       clarity and theater-quality sound.   --  More than 14,000 VOD titles and growing, 70 per cent of which are       free.  In addition, the VOD library also includes more than 1,200 HD       titles per month.   --  100 per cent digital quality on every channel and less "pixilation"       (distortion) than with cable or satellite.  Unlike some cable       providers, FiOS TV quality is not deteriorated by the recompression of       video signals before they are passed on to customers   --  An innovative interactive media guide (IMG) that helps customers       quickly and easily find and enjoy content from TV listings, VOD       catalogs and the Home Media DVR (digital video recorder), as well as       personal music and photos from a home network.  Among the features of       the IMG are:       --  Multi-Room DVR - Verizon's Home Media DVR allows customers to           stream recorded HD and standard-definition (SD) programs to up to           six other TV sets throughout the home.  This includes the ability           to watch three separately recorded shows on three TV sets at the           same time, plus pause recorded programming in one room and           continue watching in another.       --  Widgets - Customers have one-touch, on-demand access to local           weather and traffic reports shown on TV screens.  Widgets provide           local traffic and weather reports, daily local and national news           headlines, daily national sports headlines, community news, and           daily horoscopes.       --  Free casual games - With the remote control and an HD set-top box,           customers can access chess, solitaire and wordplay.       --  "What's Hot on FiOS TV" - Features information on the most-popular           programs currently being broadcast in the region and the most           popular VOD titles.       --  Return to paused programming - Allows customers to pause live           programming, change channels, and then return to the paused           program and pick up where they left off.       --  Channel sorting options - Customers can create two separate lists           of favorite channels for family members.  Customers also can           filter channels in the guide by genre, for instances where a           customer only may want to see HD content, international channels           or kids programming, among others.    

Programming choices for Hispanic, African-American, Asian, Russian and other multicultural audiences are available in every market. Because FiOS TV has so much capacity, it is an outlet for emerging and independent networks to showcase their diverse programming.

Information on packages and prices is available at www.verizon.com/fiostv. Residents and businesses also can call 1-888-GET-FIOS (888-438-3467) to see if they qualify to order FiOS TV.

Verizon delivers FiOS TV and Internet services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network straight to customers' homes and businesses, providing stunning picture-and-sound quality, a broad spectrum of content diversity, interactive features and the fastest Internet speeds, creating the ultimate home-entertainment experience.

FiOS Internet delivers download speeds of up to 50 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 20 Mbps, as well as high-quality voice services. This year, Verizon's FiOS Internet service was named the top pick in PC Magazine's 2008 reader survey and also was named a winner in PC World Magazine's The 100 Best Products of 2008. It was the second year in a row that the broadband service made the reader survey and best product lists.

(More information about FiOS TV and fiber optics is available in Verizon's online News Center at www.verizon.com/news.)

The value of FiOS TV extends to the installation and customer support. Specially trained Verizon technicians will install the service and acquaint subscribers with FiOS TV features and services. Verizon is waiving the installation fee for up to three existing TV outlets, and there is no charge to install a needed optical network terminal at the subscriber's home. Charges for other installation services, such as additional outlets, may apply. Verizon provides 24 x 7 technical assistance by phone from its Fiber Solutions Centers.

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 71 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 more than 228,000 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.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Verizon

CONTACT: Media, John Bonomo, +1-212-321-8033, John.J.Bonomo@Verizon.com,
or Maureen Rasp-Glose, +1-716-842-7090, Maureen.Rasp-Glose@Verizon.com, both
of Verizon

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

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

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Profile: International Entertainment