The Future of TV Arrives as Verizon Launches FiOS TV in Greater Richmond Area
Company Begins Offering FiOS TV in Henrico County; Expects to Expand to City of Richmond by End of Year
Video Service Is Delivered by Verizon FiOS, Nation's Largest Digital, All-Fiber-Optic Network
RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 14 -- The future of television is arriving for consumers in parts of the greater Richmond area as Verizon introduces FiOS TV over its revolutionary fiber-optic network.
Verizon delivers FiOS TV over the nation's largest digital, all-fiber network. Only this network has earned the certification of the independent Fiber to the Home Council for providing fiber all the way to customers' homes.
"The holidays now are a bit merrier for Richmond-area consumers, who have waited a long time for a better choice in TV service," said Robert W. Woltz Jr., president of Verizon Virginia. "FiOS TV will bring something to consumers they've never had before: incredible picture and sound clarity and innovative new services -- all from a brand they know and trust. Customers who liked what FiOS has done for their Internet connection will love what it does for their TV."
Verizon FiOS TV is available now to more than 15,000 households in parts of Henrico County, including parts of Innsbrook, Springfield Road, Three Chopt west of Parham Road and some portions of the Nuckols Road corridor.
In addition, Verizon expects to offer FiOS TV to more than 20,000 households in the city of Richmond by the end of the year, including portions of the Fan, Randolph District, Brookland Parkway, Laburnum Park and West End areas, including Byrd Park.
Consumers can check online at www.verizonfios.com/pa/tv to see if FiOS TV is already available in their area, or to request that Verizon contact them when FiOS TV is available. Consumers also can call their local Verizon sales office or 1-877-4-FIOS-TV (1-877-434-6788).
Service Highlights
Verizon's FiOS TV Premier package delivers 200 all-digital channels for $42.99 per month. The package includes 15 high-definition (HD) channels in the Richmond market and access to approximately 4,000 on-demand titles, 60 percent of which are free. Sports fans subscribing to FiOS TV Premier in the Richmond market will also receive Mid-Atlantic Sports Network at no extra charge. MASN carries the Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles and Ravens, and various NCAA teams.
Verizon offers three set-top boxes: standard definition for $4.99 per month; high definition, which includes HD channels, for $9.99 per month; and a dual-tuner, HD-capable digital video recorder for $12.99 per month.
Verizon also offers innovative features not available from other providers, such as Home Media DVR (digital video recorder) and FiOS TV Widgets. Home Media DVR, at $19.99 per month, has a multi-room DVR feature enabling up to three simultaneous viewings of recorded programs without requiring customers to set up a complex home network or buy extra equipment. Customers also can access photos and music on their PCs and play them on their TV. FiOS TV Widgets is a free interactive feature that provides viewers with local weather and traffic information while they're watching their favorite shows.
"Our all-fiber-optic network delivers a superior customer experience today, and has an abundance of bandwidth for the exciting services we'll offer in the future," said Robin E. Stennet, Verizon's senior manager of regional marketing operations for Virginia.
Verizon will bring FiOS TV in 2007 and beyond to additional communities in the Richmond area and other markets in Virginia where it has obtained franchises. The company has video franchises in 17 municipalities in Virginia.
Nationally, Verizon's video franchises cover approximately 5.3 million households in 10 states and more than 250 franchise areas.
In addition to Virginia, Verizon currently offers FiOS TV in parts of California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas.
Delivered over Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network, FiOS TV is a formidable competitor to cable and satellite. The Verizon FTTP network is currently under construction in more than half the states where the company offers landline communications services.
Since Verizon began building its fiber-optic network in Virginia in 2004, the company has placed more than 25.5 million feet of fiber and created hundreds of new full-time positions to build and support the network and FiOS 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 30 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 5 Mbps as well as high-quality voice service.*
"Our all-fiber-optic upgrade is a complete transformation of Verizon's communications network," said Woltz. "This transformation will offer consumers the very best services: super-fast Internet speeds, superior TV and crystal-clear voice, all at competitive prices with Verizon's unmatched customer service."
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 24x7 technical assistance by phone from its specialized Fiber Solutions Centers, including one in Hampton.
*NOTE: actual (throughput) speeds will vary.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a New York-based Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 57 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks, and Verizon Telecom, which is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. 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.
Source: Verizon
CONTACT:
Harry Mitchell
Verizon
+1-804-772-1460
harry.j.mitchell@verizon.com
Web site: www.verizon.com/
http://www.verizonfios.com/pa/tv
