Verizon FiOS TV Now Available to 80,000 More Californians

Verizon FiOS TV Now Available to 80,000 More Californians

Consumers in Murrieta Can Experience Better Television Technology; New Service Offering Provides More Competitive Choice and Greater Value

MURRIETA, Calif., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Some 80,000 additional Southern California customers here can now get the superior picture quality and program choice of Verizon's FiOS TV, as Murrieta today joined Beaumont as the first markets in California for the new fiber-optic television service.

Verizon is the only company to offer, on a mass scale, all-digital fiber- optic communications all the way to the customer. FiOS TV, delivered on this superior network, was first offered in California three weeks ago. It is also available in Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, New York and Virginia.

"FiOS TV gives Murrieta consumers an outstanding, superior alternative for their video entertainment," said Tim McCallion, Pacific region president. "Customers who liked what FiOS did for their Internet connection will love what it does for their TV. We've harnessed the speed and capacity of fiber- based broadband with the power of broadcast to create a revolutionary, new entertainment experience."

Service highlights include:

- A broad collection of all-digital programming and compelling consumer
choice -- with more than 350 total channels and more on the way.
- A lead offer with more than 180 digital video and music channels, for
$34.95 a month with Verizon FiOS Internet Service or a qualifying voice
plan or $39.95 as a stand-alone service.
- More than 20 high-definition channels, with extraordinary clarity and
theater-quality sound.
- Over 2,200 On Demand titles available to customers now, increasing to
over 3,500 titles in the next several months.
- Channels grouped by genres such as entertainment, sports, news,
shopping, movies and family, making it easy for audiences to find their
favorite programming.
- An easy-to-use interactive programming guide that integrates HD
programming, On Demand content and the digital video recorder along with
broadcast television into a seamless user experience.
- A dual-tuner, HD-capable DVR that gives customers the freedom to pause
and rewind live TV, record one show while watching another, and fast
forward to their favorite part of the program - all without a VCR, tapes
or DVDs.

Information on packages and prices is available at www.verizon.net/fiostv. Murrieta- and Beaumont-area customers also can call 1-800-880-2943 to see if they're able to order FiOS TV.

Verizon obtained a local video franchise in Murrieta in September and is currently in negotiations with more than 15 other communities in California to obtain additional franchises. Under current state law, potential competitors to the incumbent cable-TV operators must obtain video franchises in each community they seek to serve.

Delivered over Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network, FiOS TV is designed to be a formidable competitor to cable and satellite. The Verizon FTTP network, the largest of its kind in the country, is currently under construction in more than half the states where the company offers landline communications services, including more than 30 California communities. 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 services.

Programming choices for Latino, African-American, Asian, Russian and other multicultural audiences are available in every market. Because FiOS TV has so much capacity, it is an outlet for emerging and independent networks to showcase their diverse programming.

(More information about FiOS TV and fiber optics is available in Verizon's online News Center at www.verizon.com/news.)

Service and Package Details

FiOS TV subscribers can choose from three simple-to-understand service offerings, each with built-in choice and value. They can then choose from packages and premium channels with programming that meets their special interests. Verizon offers three set-top boxes: standard definition for $3.95 per month; high definition, which includes HD channels, for $9.95 per month; and a dual-tuner, HD-capable digital video recorder for $12.95 per month.

The services include:

- Basic, with access to 15-35 local broadcast weather and community
channels for $12.95 per month. The service is digital with a set-top
box, which also provides access to On Demand programming. Basic is also
available as an analog service that does not require a set-top box for
viewing.
- Expanded Basic, Verizon's lead offer, delivers more than 180 video and
music channels for $34.95 a month with Verizon FiOS Internet Service or
a qualifying voice plan. This tier includes access to On Demand content
and requires a set-top box. High-definition channels are included in
this tier at no extra charge, and customers must have an HD set-top box
and an HD-ready TV to view them.
- La Conexion, an alternative to Expanded Basic service designed for
bilingual consumers who enjoy TV programs in English and Spanish, for
$27.95 per month with Verizon FiOS Internet Service or a qualifying
voice plan. La Conexion is also available as a stand-alone service for
$32.95 per month. The package includes nearly 140 channels with English
and Spanish-language programming and access to On Demand programming.
This service requires a set-top box. HD channels are included in this
tier at no extra charge, and customers must have an HD set-top box and
an HD-ready TV to view them.

Verizon FiOS TV customers who sign up for 12 months of Expanded Basic or La Conexion will receive additional discounts through a newly instituted annual savings agreement. FiOS TV customers will have the choice of receiving $5 off the monthly Movie Package price for an annual savings of $60. Or, customers can waive the monthly standard set-top box fee of $3.95 -- an annual savings of $47.40.

Consumers with a passion for movies can add the movie package with 44 channels of Starz, Encore, Showtime, The Movie Channel, Sundance and Flix, as well as 255 titles of On Demand programming, for a regular price of $11.95 a month. Sports enthusiasts can add a 15-channel sports package for $5.95 a month. Or, both packages can be purchased for $14.95 a month. In addition to the movie package, customers with a set-top box can order new, On Demand movie releases for $3.95 each or choose from a selection of movie library titles for $2.95 each.

For wrestling fans, Verizon offers World Wrestling Entertainment's WWE 24/7, a subscription On Demand service, for $7.95 a month. Karaoke fans can sing along at home with a subscription to the Karaoke package for $7.95 a month.

Verizon also offers 14 HBO channels and 12 Cinemax channels as premium services, with each set of channels available for $14.95. The price includes access to each channel's subscription On Demand library. Subscribers who want both HBO and Cinemax will pay $24.95 per month.

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 Fiber Solutions Centers in Oxnard and other cities.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other communication innovations to wireline and wireless customers. Verizon operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 million customers nationwide; one of the most expansive wholly owned global IP networks; and one of the nation's premier wireline networks, serving home, business and wholesale customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of approximately 250,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. 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: Jon Davies, +1-805-231-3985, jon.davies@verizon.com

Web site: http://www.verizon.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/094251.html

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