Verizon FiOS HDTV

[GeekGirl]

derek - I'm with you. Sci-fi, Weather Channel can't start soon enough. I had no idea Food Network was so popular. Maybe there are some incentive$ to put those other channels on first.

[arnoldevns]

Originally Posted by derek

Anyone else like me could care less about having HGTV HD, FOOD HD and LMN HD??? I mean I give props for FIOS adding to their HD lineup...but what I'm waiting for is seeing FIOS have SciFi, History Channel, USA, FX, Speed, TBS, TWC etc in HD as soon as they are available.

Hard to complain about not having SciFi, History, USA, FX, Speed, TBS, TWC.. etc.. since none of those stations are offered in HD anywhere.

There's really very little in HD that Fios doesn't offer. The big ones are A&E, and INHD (which is owned by other cable companies that aren't likely to make a deal with Verizon - ever)

[URFloorMatt]

I don't think he was complaining. He was just saying: the real test from his perspective as to the quality of Verizon service will be how quickly they step up this fall when new HD channels start rolling out much more frequently. I think most of us agree with that, and our concern is that the contracts with Scripps have been settled for months and we're just now seeing the channels come live.

Also, don't forget VS/GLF on your list.

[m_jonis]

Originally Posted by derek

Anyone else like me could care less about having HGTV HD, FOOD HD and LMN HD??? I mean I give props for FIOS adding to their HD lineup...but what I'm waiting for is seeing FIOS have SciFi, History Channel, USA, FX, Speed, TBS, TWC etc in HD as soon as they are available.

USA and SciFi are both owned by GE/NBC.

You'll have to wait a while to see either one in HD

NBC shows SOME of those on Universal HD, but they don't want the "parent" networks to suffer, which is why you see BSG on Universal HD about 2 seasons behind Sci-Fi.

Give them a few years and you'll get your wish.

You'll probably see History, Speed sooner than the rest (TBS usually only shows "older" things that were never filmed in HD). And you want the Weather Channel in HD???

[GeekGirl]

Yes, Weather Channel HD!!! I'm addicted to it (in between sports). It's been announced for later this year. I gotta suffer with Food-HD, so quid pro quo.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quid_pro_quo )

[URFloorMatt]

Originally Posted by m_jonis

USA and SciFi are both owned by GE/NBC.

You'll have to wait a while to see either one in HD

NBC shows SOME of those on Universal HD, but they don't want the "parent" networks to suffer, which is why you see BSG on Universal HD about 2 seasons behind Sci-Fi.

Give them a few years and you'll get your wish.

You'll probably see History, Speed sooner than the rest (TBS usually only shows "older" things that were never filmed in HD). And you want the Weather Channel in HD???

Um, all of those channels have planned launches for Q3/Q4 2007.

[jank0023]

Originally Posted by jeepmatt

I received a response back from my DE media contact at VZ and she stated, yes - they did roll these 3 new channels out in TX today - and that they will be rolled out to the rest of us "soon", at which time there will be a formal announcement.

Unfortunately, that's not too concrete - but I can't imagine it being longer than in the next week.

Just an FYI, we got the 3 new channels in FL now too. I'm in Tampa and I just noticed them 2 mins ago. Can't say these three HD channels were very high on my list though. I much would have preferred Vs, USA or A&E or HD VOD then Food, HGTV and "Lady's network"....and for godsakes my wife barely cares when something is in HD vs SD..I'M THE ONE THAT CARES!

[kes601]

Nothing new here this morning.

[VARTV]

Originally Posted by derek

Anyone else like me could care less about having HGTV HD, FOOD HD and LMN HD??? I mean I give props for FIOS adding to their HD lineup...but what I'm waiting for is seeing FIOS have SciFi, History Channel, USA, FX, Speed, TBS, TWC etc in HD as soon as they are available.

FOOD is very popular... They have been shooting in HD for over year now...

[Ken Ross]

Nothing new in N.Y.

[arnoldevns]

I was doing a little research on planned HD channels, and it's hard to get too many things nailed down. Supposedly DirecTV has deals with 60 networks and plans to have 100 HD channels on the air by the end of the year. NBCU says they'll have several networks on the air soon, but offered no timetable. USA and SciFi are assumed to be two of the networks. Turner says it'll have TBS and Cartoon - but offers no timetable. They did commit to a September launch of CNN in HD. Fox will supposedly have an HD version of FX, but they won't say when.

With the uncertain nature of these commitments, I'm not surprised we're not hearing more from Verizon about future HD networks.

Oddly enough, as I looked around for info on HD networks, I never saw any mention of the Lifetime Movie Network in HD that's now on Fios!

[URFloorMatt]

I'm pretty sure NBCU said they plan to launch USA and SciFi by year's end. There were some threads around here about it that probably say, but I've never had any luck with the search function around here so I'm not even going to try.

I also remember speculation that MSNBC will go HD fairly soon after, given that they're moving to a new HD studio that's being built at 30 Rock. This was seemingly supported by the push for Nightly News in HD and the comments that HD field cams will begin deployment next March.

You're certainly right to be cautious though. Plans change all the time. Warner is the only network to commit to a hard timeline with CNN (and probably with TBS if there's going to be HD baseball playoffs this year). Disney has also said early 2008 for Disney, Toon Disney, and ESPNEWS.

[GutBomb]

Originally Posted by m_jonis

USA and SciFi are both owned by GE/NBC.

You'll have to wait a while to see either one in HD

NBC shows SOME of those on Universal HD, but they don't want the "parent" networks to suffer, which is why you see BSG on Universal HD about 2 seasons behind Sci-Fi.

Give them a few years and you'll get your wish.

You'll probably see History, Speed sooner than the rest (TBS usually only shows "older" things that were never filmed in HD). And you want the Weather Channel in HD???

battlestar galactica is 6 or 7 episodes behind, not a season or 2.

[m_jonis]

Originally Posted by GutBomb

battlestar galactica is 6 or 7 episodes behind, not a season or 2.

they finally fixed that? Good. Maybe I'll start subbing to it then.

Around here, on TW Cable, Universal HD started being offered last year. They were only showing Season 1 on Universal HD.

[lobozooma]

Food TV, HGTV and LMN HD have shown up in Northern Virginia as of this morning.

-Matt

[kes601]

Originally Posted by lobozooma

Food TV, HGTV and LMN HD have shown up in Northern Virginia as of this morning.

-Matt

Still not in Virginia Beach, I was hoping they would add Virginia as a whole, we have such a low subscriber base in this general area right now that my guess is we will be last.

[clockworkgreen]

Originally Posted by lobozooma

Food TV, HGTV and LMN HD have shown up in Northern Virginia as of this morning.

-Matt

What channel #s are these supposed to be?

[kes601]

Originally Posted by clockworkgreen

What channel #s are these supposed to be?

840, 841, 845.

[jeepmatt]

Yeah, folks in MD over on DSL Reports are also stating they got the channels this morning.

Okay, I was cool with the first states getting added as a test, but this 1 state at a time thing is rediculous.

These are NATIONAL HD channels Verizon.

Everything is done so half-assed with this company.

[kes601]

Originally Posted by jeepmatt

Yeah, folks in MD over on DSL Reports are also stating they got the channels this morning.

Okay, I was cool with the first states getting added as a test, but this 1 state at a time thing is rediculous.

These are NATIONAL HD channels Verizon.

Everything is done so half-assed with this company.

I'm right there with you. Getting somewhat ridiculous.

[Ken Ross]

Still nothing in N.Y.

[DiskDude]

Originally Posted by lobozooma

Food TV, HGTV and LMN HD have shown up in Northern Virginia as of this morning.

-Matt

FIOS in PG Co MD has the new HD channels as well, probably the same channel set as Northern VA. The guide shows the channels, but no programming. udigtv has the new channels and the programming using zip code 20170, Verizon FiosTV - Silver Springs/Wash Met, for anyone who's interested in seeing what's on.

[jeepmatt]

That Udig website is odd - it doesn't even list Verizon as a provider in my zip - or any around me in DE or PA.

[afiggatt]

Originally Posted by jeepmatt

Yeah, folks in MD over on DSL Reports are also stating they got the channels this morning.

Okay, I was cool with the first states getting added as a test, but this 1 state at a time thing is rediculous.

These are NATIONAL HD channels Verizon.

Everything is done so half-assed with this company.

I just checked and was pleasantly surprised to find the three HD channels had been added here to the Washington Metro region. It appears that they were added to the Anne Arundel - Howard County region as well. We need to look beyond the state to the region to get a better picture of where the new HD channels were added. VA now has four regions in it's list of channel line-ups: Washington Metro, Richmond, VA Beach Area, and Ft. Belvoir - Quantico (which looks to be a special feed to the bases as there are no national HD channels in that channel listing). Did anyone in another region - Baltimore, Richmond, SE PA, Northern DE - get the channels today?

I understand your frustration with the deliberate pace of the roll-out, but this is much faster than the cable companies. With Comcast, a roll-out takes months across their balkanized system, even for the areas that apparently have the bandwidth available. This adding of one or two regions at a time means that it may take a week or two to add the three HD channels to all the Fios subscribers. But I hope they will speed this process up in the future as it will take longer and longer this way as they add more regions. What we should do is keep track by region and date they add the channels to see if there is a pattern that we can expect them to follow for future roll-outs.

[jdoe7890]

Originally Posted by Ken Ross

Still nothing in N.Y.

None of the channels have been added in the Boston region

[rickypicky]

Originally Posted by lobozooma

Food TV, HGTV and LMN HD have shown up in Northern Virginia as of this morning.

-Matt

What he said...

[JWhip]

There is obviously a reason in their distribution system why they are adding the channels a day at a time up the coast. What is the big deal with a day or two delay? Repeat after me, It is only TV, it is only TV.

[jeepmatt]

hhahhha...of course JWhip! Lol..

The last time national channels were added (AMC, Fuse, etc.) - they were all added across the country at the same time.

Just basing it off of previous "implementations".

It's not just TV - it's HGTV!

[DiskDude]

Originally Posted by jeepmatt

That Udig website is odd - it doesn't even list Verizon as a provider in my zip - or any around me in DE or PA.

Odd is right. Their link between zip codes and channel lineups is suboptimal, to say the least. My actual zip shows me 10 different COMCAST lineups, two for Millenium Cable, and four apartment house internal lineups, but it only has the FIOS TV listing for the next county over which has different local channels. I had to try serveral different zips in the area before finding the right channel lineup. I didn't see a feedback option to help them update their relationships between zips and providers, either. The listings are accurate, the trick is finding the right zip to use...

[siersema]

I recently had a problem with the one FIOS channel not working. With techs at the house, tech support and network support, I got a glimpse of the local network supporting my FIOS TV service. In Southern California, Pomona has a centralized hub that connects the region to the national network. From there content and channels are fed to local video server offices (VSO was the term used). The techs were comparing Seal Beach to Huntington Beach and having to call the central office to go check the channel. When they checked Seal Beach 802 local KCBS was showing but when they went to HB the channel was off. They then dispatched someone to the HB VSO to enable the channel. This weekend, all music channels were off and they dispatched someone to ‘fix’ the network problem. Given the information that I have learned so far, can anyone provide additional information? Perhaps this is a new Master Topic to identify hubs and VSOs?