Verizon Says FiOS TV Is on Road to Meeting Goal

2209 Views 24 Replies 19 Participants Last post by John Mason, Jun 13, 2006

Ken H

Discussion Starter · May 3, 2006

From TV Week, By Jay Sherman

Verizon Communications reported Tuesday that as of the first quarter, its new television product is capturing between 9 percent and 12 percent of the homes where the product is available.

It was the first time that the New York-based telecommunications giant provided any details about its television product, which was launched in September in Keller, Texas. The product has since expanded to a number of communities in six other states, including Florida, New York, Virginia and Massachusetts.

Verizon is spending billions to roll out FiOS, a fiber-optic-based network that will enable the company to compete with cable companies with a similar three-product offering of television, high-speed Internet and telephone services. The company sees FiOS as an important key to its survival as its traditional copper-wire-based telephone service continues to lose customers to cable, wireless providers and Internet phone companies.

While Verizon wouldn't say how many customers subscribe to the company's FiOS TV video product, it said that in Keller the number of eligible homes receiving the FiOS TV product rose to 24 percent in the first quarter, up from 21 percent at the end of 2005.

The company revealed FiOS TV's progress as part of its quarterly earnings release, in which its first-quarter profit fell to $1.63 billion from $1.76 billion a year ago. Revenue surged 25 percent to $22.7 billion.

Also, Verizon described the penetration rate of 9 percent to 12 percent as being halfway toward the company's goal of snagging 20 percent to 25 percent of eligible homes within five years.

Verizon said the overall FiOS product, which in addition to a video product includes a fiber-optic-based high-speed Internet service, is now available in 3.6 million homes in communities in 15 states, up from 3 million homes at the end of last year.

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Ken Ross

· #2 · May 3, 2006

I may have missed it, but does anyone have a picture of the FIOS interface posted? One of the problems with cable IMO has always been the ugly interface. Say what we will about D*, their interface (channel guide, etc.) is very slick.

mstahlkr

· #3 · May 3, 2006

Take a look at this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinan...7594055042058/

UxiSXRD

· #4 · May 3, 2006

I am awaiting FIOS with great anticipation. I at least intend to play them against Charter, but if their online prices hold, I would ditch Charter in a heart beat...

msummers80

· #5 · May 3, 2006

I can't wait to give comcast the boot. Unless the price is atronomical, I'll be the first in my area to sign up. All I have is comcast cable internet, but I'll drop that and get a full package with FIOS. What drives me nuts it two areas close to me have it, and I've seen them putting it in and see cables for it every day on my way to work, but it isn't at my house yet

Farlaugh

· #6 · May 3, 2006

I would get the whole package if it were available to me. The internet is amazing. I am also a PC Gamer and the guys with FIOS have the absolute best pings. /me is jealous.

Any word on when they are coming to Kansas City?

clapple

· #7 · May 3, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by msummers80
I can't wait to give comcast the boot. Unless the price is atronomical, I'll be the first in my area to sign up. All I have is comcast cable internet, but I'll drop that and get a full package with FIOS. What drives me nuts it two areas close to me have it, and I've seen them putting it in and see cables for it every day on my way to work, but it isn't at my house yet

I have the cables (fiber optic) in front of my house; but all they offer is internet and phone service. Why spend all that money, if they don't offer TV service? http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/newre...ply&p=7594342#

LarryCow

· #8 · May 3, 2006

They're not going to meet any goals in NY unless/until the get the YES network - I just cancelled FIOS and signed up w/Cablevision because FIOS still does not have a contract w/the Yankee network; sales had promised that it would be up by opening day. FIOS sales tells me they are getting multiple cancellations and can't sell the product w/o the Yanks.

kmj0577

· #9 · May 3, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farlaugh
I would get the whole package if it were available to me. The internet is amazing. I am also a PC Gamer and the guys with FIOS have the absolute best pings. /me is jealous.

Any word on when they are coming to Kansas City?

Don't know about FiOS, but KC might be getting a Gigabit network

http://www.wwp.com/news/press-releases/2006-02-21.asp

humdinger70

· #10 · May 3, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farlaugh
Any word on when they are coming to Kansas City?

Any word on San Diego? Or are we so in bed with SBC/AT&T that Verizon isn't even an option?

Ken Ross

· #11 · May 3, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstahlkr
Take a look at this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinan...7594055042058/

Thanks, it sure looks a lot better than my Cablevision interface!

henry296

· #12 · May 4, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by humdinger70
Any word on San Diego? Or are we so in bed with SBC/AT&T that Verizon isn't even an option?

Rule of thumb: If Verizon doesn't provide your telephone service, FIOS won't be available any time in the near future, or perhpas distant future.

AT&T is devloping their own fiber optic TV service. Search for Lightspeed.

RAVEN56706

· #13 · May 4, 2006

in jersey city, fios will probably never come

maximum360

· #14 · May 4, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAVEN56706
in jersey city, fios will probably never come

ditto for some parts of DC.

Ken Ross

· #15 · May 4, 2006

The cable companies are running very strong anti-Verizon ads on local radio here. They're almost comical, but it shows you how terrified they are of competition. Good for them!

GRN

· #16 · May 5, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryCow
They're not going to meet any goals in NY unless/until the get the YES network - I just cancelled FIOS and signed up w/Cablevision because FIOS still does not have a contract w/the Yankee network; sales had promised that it would be up by opening day. FIOS sales tells me they are getting multiple cancellations and can't sell the product w/o the Yanks.

Dish Network is doing fine without offering YES. I doubt that's going to pose a problem for Verizon. In any case, I'm sure they'll get the YES Network sooner rather than later.

FiosFiend

· #17 · May 9, 2006

Well I've got Fios TV and internet in North Texas and it blows Comcast away! I was thrilled to call up CC and tell them to come pick up their equipment. My internet is 15/2 and is rock solid at all times of the day. I never see my speed fluctuate like I did with Comcast. The TV service is awesome. For $30 less a month then I was paying for Comcast I get the same level of service, in terms of premium channels, but with an HD DVR included! I also get all the HD channels at no extra charge. If fios becomes available in your area RUN do not walk.

fredfa

· #18 · May 9, 2006

The Digital Revolution
Okla. Telcos Donâ€™t Need Video Franchises

By Linda Haugsted Multichannel.com 5/9/2006

Oklahoma telephone companies do not have to obtain separate municipal franchises to use the public rights-of-way to deliver video services, according to an opinion rendered by that state's attorney general.

The official, Drew Edmondson, issued the opinion May 3 in response to questions submitted to him by Rep. Dennis Adkins (R-Tulsa), chairman of the state House Energy & Utility Regulatory Committee. AT&T Inc. asked the lawmaker to seek clarification of state law.

Municipalities may dictate where plant is placed in the right-of-way, issuing permits and easements, but the state constitution and legislature govern the right of the telephone companies to operate throughout the state, according to the attorney general. So a phone company already operating in the state does not need a separate cable franchise, he wrote.

Officials of Cox Communications Inc. -- the state's largest cable operator, with 38 franchises -- said they are reviewing the decision to determine how the opinion may impact their Oklahoma business. Cox provides video, Internet and phone services in its systems there and pays an estimated $14 million in local franchise fees annually to local governments.

"To the extent that this opinion serves as a catalyst for a re-examination of the regulatory burdens imposed on video services generally and promotes competition in a fair and equitable manner, we are all for it," said Tim Tippit, the MSOâ€™s vice president for government and public affairs, in a prepared statement.

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Capek

· #19 · Jun 13, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiosFiend
Well I've got Fios TV and internet in North Texas and it blows Comcast away! I was thrilled to call up CC and tell them to come pick up their equipment. My internet is 15/2 and is rock solid at all times of the day. I never see my speed fluctuate like I did with Comcast. The TV service is awesome. For $30 less a month then I was paying for Comcast I get the same level of service, in terms of premium channels, but with an HD DVR included! I also get all the HD channels at no extra charge. If fios becomes available in your area RUN do not walk.

Does anyone know if or when Fios TV and internet is coming to east Texas, specifically Houston? I've just recently been doing a little reading up on it and I'm really starting to jones for it.

I tried using the adress finder on the Verizon FiOS page, but apparently my address isn't in whatever database they were searching. Which I assume just means that it's not available in my area at this time.

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fredfa

· #20 · Jun 13, 2006

Why don't you call Verizon and ask?

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