More Cable TV Choice for Consumers in 5 More Massachusetts Communities

More Cable TV Choice for Consumers in 5 More Massachusetts Communities

Thousands More Consumers, Small Businesses Now Can Order Verizon's FiOS TV, the Only TV Service Delivered Over Nation's Most Advanced Fiber-Optic Network Straight to Consumers

EASTON, Mass., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers and small businesses in five more Massachusetts communities now have more choice in cable TV providers as Verizon continues to make FiOS TV - the ultimate home-entertainment experience with a broad range of programming choices and superior picture quality - available to additional locations throughout the state.

The five latest communities are Easton, Groton, Hull, Kingston and Wrentham. They are among 100 Massachusetts communities (see list below) where the company's new television service is or will soon be offered - the only TV service delivered over the nation's most advanced all-fiber network directly connecting to millions of individual homes and businesses.

Verizon FiOS TV offers more than 500 total channels, including 123 HD channels in Massachusetts - more than any local cable TV company, including Cox.

"FiOS TV gives consumers in these communities an outstanding alternative for their video entertainment with superior picture-and-sound quality and innovative, interactive features that cable can't match," said Donna Cupelo, Verizon region president for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. "Customers in these communities who liked what FiOS did for their Internet connection will love what it does for their TV. We've harnessed the vast capacity of our advanced fiber-optic network to deliver a revolutionary, new entertainment experience giving customers the best choice for TV."

Massachusetts residents who are FiOS TV-eligible now have the option to trim their monthly bills by bundling FiOS TV service, FiOS Internet service and the Verizon Freedom Essentials unlimited calling plan, for as little as $79.99 a month. They also can add a Verizon Wireless calling plan for a Grand Slam of communications and entertainment services.

Residents in Easton, Groton, Hull, Kingston and Wrentham can check online at www.verizon.com/fios for more information or to request that Verizon contact them when FiOS services become available. Customers also can call their local Verizon sales office or 888-GET FiOS (888-438-3467).

Small and medium-sized businesses interested in business-grade FiOS services can visit www.verizon.com/bizfiostv to see online rebate offers of up to $409 depending on the services selected, or call 877-FiOS BIZ (877-346-7249) for more information.

   FiOS TV Service Highlights   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 123 HD channels available for Massachusetts customers, with       extraordinary clarity and theater-quality sound.   --  An industry-leading library of more than 15,000 video-on-demand (VOD)       titles each month, 70 percent of which are free. In addition, the VOD       library includes 1,400 HD titles per month.   --  An innovative interactive media guide (IMG) that gives customers a       rich, personalized television experience with content from TV       listings, VOD catalogs and the digital video recorder (DVR), 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.   --  Media Manager - a feature that lets customers wirelessly bring       personal photos, music and slide shows to life from their computers to       their TVs.   --  Remote DVR management - All FiOS subscribers can remotely control       their DVRs online, and Media Manager subscribers can use this service       via any cell phone with a data plan. Subscribers can use the service       to remotely review, change or add recording requests; delete recorded       programs; browse and search TV and video-on-demand listings; set       parental controls; and more.   --  Widgets - Customers have one-touch, on-demand access to personalized       information such as local weather and traffic reports, daily local and       national news headlines, fantasy sports, daily national sports       headlines, and daily horoscopes, as well as Twitter and Facebook, all       while still enjoying their TV programming.   --  Free casual games - With the remote control and an HD set-top box,       customers can access chess, solitaire, sudoku 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.    --  Fantasy Football - FiOS TV customers who are registered users of ESPN       Fantasy Football will have instant on-screen access to personalized       NFL statistics, including rosters, box scores, scoring leaders and       player information.    

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

Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network, the largest of its kind in the country, is currently under construction in more than half the states where the company offers landline communications services. The network brings the power and capacity of fiber optics directly into people's homes and has industry-leading quality and reliability. Fiber delivers amazingly sharp pictures and sound, and has the capacity to transmit a wide array of high-definition programming that is so clear and intense it seems to leap from the TV screen. It also delivers Internet 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.

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 in Providence, R.I., and other cities.

FiOS TV is currently available to more than 10.3 million homes and businesses in 14 states: California, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

(In Massachusetts, FiOS TV is available in Abington, Acton, Andover, Arlington, Ashland, Bedford, Bellingham, Belmont, Boxborough, Boxford, Braintree, Burlington, Canton, Danvers, Dedham, Dover, Dunstable, Easton, Framingham, Franklin, Georgetown, Grafton, Groton, Hamilton, Hanover, Hingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Hull, Ipswich, Kingston, Lakeville, Lawrence, Leominster, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Mansfield, Marion, Marlborough, Marblehead, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Melrose, Mendon, Methuen, Middleborough, Middleton, Millbury, Nahant, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norfolk, North Andover, North Reading, Northborough, Norwood, Norwell, Plymouth, Reading, Rochester, Rockland, Rowley, Sherborn, Southborough, Stoneham, Stoughton, Stow, Sudbury, Sutton, Swampscott, Taunton, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Wareham, Wayland, Wellesley, Wenham, West Newbury, Westborough, Weston, Westwood, Wilmington, Winchester, Wrentham and Woburn, and will soon be available in Chelmsford, and North Attleborough.)

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

* NOTE: Actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) , headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 87 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 235,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 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: Rick Colon, +1-781-849-2046, richard.b.colon@verizon.com or
Phil Santoro, +1-617-743-4760, philip.g.santoro@verizon.com, both for 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