IP Democracy: Verizon Video Goes Live in Texas

Dallas suburb Keller, TX, today became the first community in which Verizon offers a video alternative to cable and satellite. Its cable competitor in the Texas town is Charter Communications.

Later this year Verizon plans to launch FiOS TV in other communities in which it has secured video franchises, including Wylie, Sachse and Westlake, TX, and communities in Florida, Virginia and California.

According to a Verizon press release, its FiOS video service includes:

Basic, which includes 15-35 local broadcast, weather and community channels, plus video-on-demand, for $12.95 per month, delivered either as a digital service that requires a set-top box or as an analog service that does not.

Expanded Basic, offering more than 180 video and music channels for $39.95 a month, plus access to 600 on-demand titles now, increasing to 1,800 by year end. VOD pricing is $3.95 for new releases $2.95 for other movies.

La Conexion, a tier designed for bilingual consumers. This $32.95/mo. package includes nearly 140 channels of English- and Spanish-language programming, plus VOD. Verizon also plans to offer other international programming.

A 15-channel sports package for $5.95 a month, a movie package, with 45 channels of Starz, Encore, Showtime and The Movie Channel, for $11.95 a month, or both for $14.95 a month. Verizon also will offer 14 HBO channels and 12 Cinemax channels as premium services, with each set of channels available for $14.95, or $24.95 for both.

Verizon is waiving the installation fee for up to three existing TV outlets.

Posted by Mitch Shapiro on September 22, 2005 12:10 PM to IP Democracy