Verizon will significantly grow its national high definition channel line-up next month, increasing its regional and national HD network count from 23 to 44. The new channels include: TBS HD, Lifetime HD, Animal Planet HD, Science Channel HD, TLC HD, Bravo HD, Smithsonian Channel HD, History Channel HD, Sci-Fi Channel HD, CNN HD, CNBC+ HD and the Outdoor Channel HD. New premium HD movie channels include Starz Kids and Family HD, Starz Comedy HD, Starz Edge HD, Showtime West HD, Showtime 2 HD, The Movie Channel HD and others.
In addition, Shawn Strickland, VP of Video Solutions Verizon FIOS, (in a letter to subscribers) wrote, by the end of 2008 Verizon FIOS will have more than 100 HD channels as well as 1,000 HD Video-On-Demand titles per month. Current FIOS HD subscribers will see new channel numbers assigned to many of its existing channels beginning July 23, though not all of the new HD channels will be immediately available.
In the NY metro area, FIOS will continue to offer the seven major local HD network broadcast channels bringing the total available to 51 HD channels.
Copyright ©2008 Gary Merson/HD Guru™. All rights reserved. The content and photos within may not be distributed electronically or copied mechanically without specific written permission.
FiOS finally got AMC HD this is interesting news because the people who own AMC hate FiOS. AMC is owned by Rainbow media a subsidiary of Cablevison. The Dolan Bros. own Cablevision and they really hate FiOS. Cablevision and FiOS have a well know feud. Many people thought FiOS would never get AMC HD.
stu and john…Unfortunately it has nothing to do with fios not wanting to offer msnbc..the cable companies are not giving verizon the rights to air that channel along with msg hd.They are fighting this with the fcc.I suggest you write to the fcc about this matter.Again verizon would love to offer those channel but cannot because they are owned by cablevision.This is anti-competitive..
John, I agree with you. Just today, I refused to close the deal with FIOS–because it didn’t have MSNBC. I told the rep, who was very nice, that the lack of MSNBC was the dealbreaker for me. I have no idea where we can find an online petition. If we had one, FIOS may very well cave in. It’s a shame, because the FIOS internet connections in my office and in my home are really great.
I just switched over to fios from Direct TV- I was tired of not have any signal whenever it rained, snowed, the wind blew, there were sun spots or a bird passed in front of my dish; the new fios system is most impressive; however almost 2000 channels and NO MSNBC??? 6 Fox National News channels, over a dozen religious channels and there is no room for a little progressive opinion? IN THE NYC AREA?!?(not exactly the bible belt) How UN-American can you get? Looks like I have to go crawling back to my Dish provider! Are there any web sites or online petitions set up yet? People, if I know anything, the large corporations fear an angry public- expressed properly, I suspect Fios would have MSNBC on in a week if we only get a little organized.
I live in Westchester Co. Although I have 2 out of 3 services from FIOS, I will not convert from Cablevision until I see it in writing from Verizon that FIOS offers MSNBC – permanently. They are wasting money on all the flyers they send me until that happens.
Here it is… March 2009… and I just subscribed to Verizon to get HD and looked for the MSNBC channel… it’s not there!! Does anyone know what the deal is???
where is MLB Network HD on Fios? When will it go live? Also, why doesn’t NHL Network HD work on Fios?
The absence of MSNBC would definitely have been a dealbreaker if I had known in advance. That and my local channel 12 which I depend on to know which Westchester schools are closed during snow days. Thsi really sucks and as many people on this blog note, I would be more than happy to give up a few hundred of the crappy TV-Wasteland channels to have those 2 back.
Looks like FiOS is now the HD leader. This is according to a recent HD comparison: http://www.defefx.com/hd-channels/
Hurray, Verizon Fios just obtained the rights to the new MLB Network and MLB Extra Innings package.
I just discovered that Fios doesn’t carry MSNBC. I found this out today – as the system is being installed. Like any self respecting junkie I have been frantically pacing the room. No Keith, no Joe, no Chris, no Rachael, no Keith again (even when I saw it at 8:00) This may be a deal breaker – I’m trying to decide right now wether or not to have them take it all out. My son was the Fios salesrep. I will now have to decide between family and my “habit……..tough break kid I need my Keith fix.
I just signed up for Fios but have 90 days to change my mind. I like having the expanded sports package that Directv offers. I need SNY (Sports Net NewYork) yes a Mets fan, and don’t know if I feel like playing the waiting game again. Would be nice to know what’s on the way.
Thanks “letter of demand”…that was brilliant….
I could not believe I had decided to switch to FIOS from Cablevision and MSNBC wasn’t on their list! I searchd the list of 2 million channels several times thinking I must have overlooked it…I know it would not be a wise business move for them to have forewarned the customer, but yet it really leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth right from the start.
I’m happy to see they are adding 7,000 new HD channels to their lineup. It doesn’t help the many who would trade all that just for MSNBC…
I live in Essex County and we have had MSNBC on FIOS for about 2 months. I was pretty bent out of shape about it. I actually work for NBC Universal and asked about it at a Town Hall meeting. Apparently, the exclusion was due to an exclusivity agreement with Cablevision, but that has expired. The deal covered the tri state area, so I’m not sure why MSNBC appears in some towns in NJ and not others (a friend in Bergen still doesn’t have it). I’m sure they are working out contracts and it should be system wide soon.
I’d still like to get AMC in HD. Wonder why they haven’t added that yet.
This is fantastic news. I was upset when they ddn’t initially offer SciFi HD. At least Ill be able to watch the final season of BSG in HG without resorting to torrents.
@I live in NJ as well and it took months before my street finally got access. The worst part was the next next to me HAD access, but I’ll admit it was worth the wait.
Randy,
A Verizon manager of media relations emailed me that Verizon is now in the process of starting to offer MSNBC in North Jersey communities where Comcast is now the provider. Verizon could not tell exactly when the channel will be added, however they expected to have the channel up and running in all applicable towns by the end of the summer.
Verizon also reached an agreement to carry the Olympics on MSNBC in all towns (served by either Comcast or Cablevision) in August.
In communities that were only served by Cablevision in the past, there is a carriage agreement that they are the only provider that can carry MSNBC. More details are on the web.
All that is welcome, but after a week of FIOS, I may have to go back to DirecTV to get my MSNBC fix. Is there any news of NY/NJ FIOS getting the channel I watched most?
I second that carrier shootout!
Sometime this year I will have to choose between TWC(current provider), DTV, and FIOS(being strung on my street this week). I would love to see some kind of evaluation, even if there are many variables.
Guru:
How about a shootout comparison test between Verizon FIOS, ATT UVERSE and Direct TV HD Premiere as you did with the Panny and Pioneer plasmas?
Is fiber optic cable really uncompressed on HD?
Does Fiber optic cable offer better picture quality then Direct TV HD?
Direct TV appears to be compressed with one exception,HDNET.
Readers what are your experiences?
Please,no comparisons between Dish or Comcast. Thank you.
Awe…poor Tommy.
Great news….if you can receive Verizon FIOS.
I live in New Jersey, Zip 08757, and despite Verizon receiving approval from the NJ State Legislature 18 months ago to roll out FIOS within NJ I am no wiser as to when I can expect it to be available and there is no web site let alone person responsible within Verizon who will provide details.