Verizon FiOS HDTV - Page 10

Last fall, both AT&T, formerly SBC, and Verizon began limited introductions of Microsoft's version of IPTV.

Still, critics charge that the telephone companies are intentionally crippling the Internet capabilities of their services to appear much like traditional closed cable offerings.

Originally Posted by hziemba

Does Verizon offer a CableCard? I have a Sony Bravia.

I can't get FIOS yet, but I signed up to be notified.

Originally Posted by billodom

This reply came from JJDavis, one of the first FiOS installs in Keller, TX.

Originally Posted by Rick Adams

It's very fortunate for Verizon that I'm not easily dissuaded from switching to their service. I ordered on Monday, had an install set for next Saturday the 21st from 8am-5pm. Two HD DVRs one SD DVR. I tried and tried to get more information on the HD DVR, that it was indeed the 160gb instead of the 120gb they were telling me.

So today I decide to change the order two three HD DVRs. I again ask about the 160gb/120gb issue, at which point they finally offer to give a message to an installer/technician to call me back. An hour later my order is canceled. For an hour and a half I can't get a straight answer, it's either a hardware problem or "some areas in Falls Church can't get FIOS-TV" (Given I'm using FIOS Internet, not a problem I think)

Finally this technician calls me back, at which point I'm informed that it's a franchise issue with Fairfax. Now I know for a fact as everyone else in this thread does that the franchise rights for Verizon passed for Fairfax nearly a year ago. So whether some paper hasn't been signed or if it's just BS, I don't know. He made it clear that they (installers) had no idea these orders were being signed up in Fairfax Co. and that the marketers had no clue what was going on and were severely misinformed about the availability of the service.

Bottom line, I'm either being lied to or they are really, really, really clueless. Clueless to the point where they are still selling a product and signing up installs to an area they still don't have the right to sell to. Bottom line, has anyone else had their order mysteriously canceled or does anyone actually have the service in their home and running in Fairfax/Falls Church? Because if I was getting a legitimate explanation, all the recent NoVA posters in this thread have a rude awakening coming.

Originally Posted by bfoster

Rick,

Do you live within the City of Falls Church? Franchises are awarded by the LOCAL Governing body. A franchise with the county of Fairfax would only be good in unincorporated areas of the county. According to this Press Release the first public reading of the franchise with Verizon was only done yesterday. Second reading to be on 1/23 with service to be available in March.

Originally Posted by Rick Adams

No, I don't. This was the first thing I thought might be the problem, and I went over it with them, and they assured me they knew I was not part of the City of Falls Church. I'm about a block from the Arlington county border, so that definitely isn't the issue.

Quite frankly I'm afraid despite my informing them I'm not part of the City of Falls Church that's still the problem. When I changed the order, someone at Verizon saw "Hey, his address is listed as Falls Church" and canceled the order because of that. As incompetent as everyone I spoke with was, I don't think it's going to be easy to resolve. I currently have a call in to my local supervisor to discuss whether the franchise agreement with Fairfax is currently in place or not, and once I get that information I'll go at Verizon again. Was just curious if I'm only one going through this or if it really is a problem with the Fairfax govt.

Originally Posted by dmbatch

No Rick, you aren't the only one. I can't even get them to accept my order because "the service isn't authorized in the Falls Church area yet". I live in Fairfax County with a FC address.

Everyday I type my number in on the qualification page and it comes back saying I am qualified. I have tried to get information from Verizon as to what the problem is but all the robotrons in the business office will say is "see above quote". I spoke to a supervisor who quoted the party line and would not let me talk to a manager. It is very frustrating to say the least.

I retired from Verizon 4 years ago and still have some friends who work there. I am trying to find someone who is part of the FIOS group to see if I can get a better explanation as to what's going on.

Originally Posted by Rick Adams

Bottom line, has anyone else had their order mysteriously canceled or does anyone actually have the service in their home and running in Fairfax/Falls Church? Because if I was getting a legitimate explanation, all the recent NoVA posters in this thread have a rude awakening coming.

You already have Verizon FiOS TV. Our records indicate that you already have ordered FiOS TV at this location. If you feel this is incorrect, please call 1-800-293-9139 (Mon - Fri, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to see if you can order FiOS TV.

Originally Posted by jefny

On the North Shore of Long Island the battle to get Verizon's FIOS TV is heating up. I have had Verizon's FIOS internet service for several months now and it has worked as advertised so I have been looking forward to seeing competition to our local cable TV provider which is Cablevision.

Cablevision's reputation for service and value is not good and my personal experiences with them support this. I recently questioned my village's representative to our North Shore Cable Commission concerning the feeling that they are dragging their feet. He blamed Verizon for not making an official proposal for a franchise but there are rumors afloat that the commission has made unreasonable demands. I don't know what truth is but Cablevision has a reputation for doing everything and anything to stop real competition.

The only solution is for citizens to keep questioning their representatives and force them to act for the public good.

Originally Posted by audiophile_walt

Does anyone know for certain whether Comcast's sports network is available for Verizon? Without the Wizards and Orioles in 1080HD and ACC Sunday nite bball it is a deal breaker for me.

Originally Posted by audiophile_walt

Does anyone know for certain whether Comcast's sports network is available for Verizon? Without the Wizards and Orioles in 1080HD and ACC Sunday nite bball it is a deal breaker for me.

VERIZON COULD CHALLENGE COMCAST SPORTS VIEWERS

Verizon is primed to give Comcast some competition for consumers' cable business, and it could be good news for sports fans looking to save money and get more channels in the process.
Spend less and get more. What a concept.
The key to the deal for sports fans is that Verizon may be armed with something satellite providers aren't -- local sports programming.
Verizon is in the process of equipping New Jersey communities with its FTTP technology, which uses hair-thin strands of fiber and optical electronics to link homes or businesses to Verizon networks. The result is the ability for broadband Internet services and, more importantly, video services that potentially could give Comcast's 1.4 million New Jersey subscribers another option for cable television.
To this point, South Jersey sports fans' only option if they want to watch the Phillies, Sixers and Flyers is to subscribe to Comcast since the majority of the teams' games are televised on Comcast SportsNet.
Comcast SportsNet is not available to subscribers of DirecTV or DISH Network, the two leading satellite providers. Because of the way it distributes SportsNet, Comcast is allowed to withhold it from satellite competitors through the so-called "terrestrial loophole."
Verizon officials are confident they won't run into the same legal roadblock in offering its video service, called FiOS TV. Verizon is optimistic that when it launches in New Jersey, Comcast SportsNet, CN8, The Golf Channel and OLN -- all Comcast entities -- will be part of its channel offerings.
"Comcast has embraced our entry into the market and we're optimistic we will offer their programming," said Alexis Johnson, Verizon's director of programming. "We feel it's important because local sports resonates with local communities."
Comcast spokesman Tim Fitzpatrick said the company does not comment on negotiations.
Why would FiOS be good news for sports fans?
First, and most importantly, it would bring some needed competition to the cable landscape, as Comcast has created a virtual monopoly in the Delaware Valley.
Second, it could result in a cheaper monthly cable bill.
Verizon's FiOS TV, which launched in September and is available in three communities in Texas, Virginia and Florida, costs $39.95 per month for the expanded basic package that includes 180 digital video and music channels.
Virtually the same digital package from Comcast currently runs $63.85 per month, and that will go up in January when Comcast raises the rates on its expanded basic package by an average of 6 percent.
Third, FiOS TV will offer more programming for sports fans. The current FiOS channel lineup includes 22 sports channels, seven of which are part of the expanded basic service. ESPN Classic and ESPNU are included in FiOS' basic package, and those channels are not available to all Comcast subscribers in South Jersey.
FiOS TV also offers a sports tier for $5.95 per month that gets you 15 extra channels -- some of which Comcast has and some of which it doesn't.
Before you get giddy about saving $20 per month and getting more sports channels, realize that it could be a while before FiOS TV is available widespread in South Jersey for two reasons.
Currently, only 100 of the 526 New Jersey communities Verizon serves are being equipped with the FTTP technology. Second, state law requires cable operators to negotiate contracts with local municipalities on a town by town basis -- a process Verizon says could take 6-18 months.
So it may be a while. In the meantime, Comcast could show some goodwill and make ESPN Classic and ESPNU available to all South Jersey subscribers.

Originally Posted by dmbatch

OK, I just talked to Verizon.

I can get everything they offer, including 22 HD channels (8 local, 9 national, 5 premium), an HD DVR, a standard STB, plus movie and sports packages, for $10 less a month than I'm paying D*tv for only HBO and Showtime plus HD package and TiVo services.

Originally Posted by billodom



Our situation in DC is somewhat different than Philadelphia's, but it seems that for us it is only a question of when FiOS TV will get CSN--and their HD sportscasts--not if.

Originally Posted by electronixchange

I don't know if any of you guys that have the Motorola DVR STB are using this but Motorola's site says that the unit is capable of being used as a "home media server" to view recorded programs throughout the home. If anyone is using this feature it would interesting to hear about it.

Originally Posted by tommy def

Just to let you guys know. I'm in Massapequa pk long Island and Verizon just called and told me the tv service is turning on monday.

Originally Posted by Rstr

You're a Bastard! Joking. I'm so jealous

Well at least I have FIOS internet...

Originally Posted by tommy def

Just to let you guys know. I'm in Massapequa pk long Island and Verizon just called and told me the tv service is turning on monday.