Verizon Expands FiOS TV Availability in New York for Consumers in the Town of Hempstead

Verizon Expands FiOS TV Availability in New York for Consumers in the Town of Hempstead

Discounted Triple-Play Bundle Available to all FiOS TV Customers in New York State

NEW YORK, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon today introduced FiOS TV in the Town of Hempstead on Long Island, offering a true choice for subscription television and on-demand programming via the company's all-digital, fiber- optic network. Verizon is the first company to offer such a communications network, connecting homes and businesses directly to fiber optics on a widespread scale.

Verizon began taking orders for its fiber-optic TV services today in parts of the Town of Hempstead's unincorporated villages of Baldwin, Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick, North Merrick, Roosevelt, Seaford and Wantagh. The Hempstead Town Board voted unanimously on April 4 to grant the company a franchise to provide television services for the town's unincorporated villages. Verizon will work with each of the incorporated villages to expand FiOS TV's availability to more households.

"Today, the Town of Hempstead's residents are given an outstanding, superior choice for their video entertainment," said Monica Azare, Verizon senior vice president for New York and Connecticut. "Verizon is delivering on its commitment to the Town Board to deliver FiOS TV ahead of schedule and make it widely available. No longer will consumers be at the mercy of a single cable TV company. They'll have Verizon FiOS TV.

"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," said Azare.

The Town of Hempstead's residents, along with all other Verizon FiOS-TV- eligible customers in New York State, now have the option to trim their monthly bills by bundling FiOS TV service, FiOS Internet service and the Verizon Freedom Values unlimited calling plan -- all for under $95.

Service highlights include:

* A broad collection of all-digital programming and compelling consumer
choice - with more than 400 total channels and more on the way.

* An initial service package of more than 180 digital video and music
channels for $39.95. With an annual savings agreement, customers can
choose either $5 off the monthly Movie Package price or waive the
monthly standard definition set-top box fee of $3.95.

* More than 20 high-definition (HD) channels, with extraordinary clarity
and theater-quality sound.

* Over 2,500 on-demand titles available to customers now, increasing to
over 3,500 titles in the next several months.

* Channels grouped by programming genres such as entertainment, sports,
news, shopping, movies and family entertainment, 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 Digital Video Recorder (DVR) that gives
customers the freedom to pause and rewind live TV, record two shows
simultaneously, 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 now http://www.verizon.com/fiostv. Customers also can call 1-800-880-2941 to see if they are able to order FiOS TV.

Customers in the Town of Hempstead join the Long Island community of Massapequa Park and the Rockland County communities of Nyack, South Nyack and Upper Nyack as FiOS TV markets in New York. Verizon will begin offering FiOS TV to other New York communities where it has franchise agreements, including Long Island's village of Cedarhurst and Town of Oyster Bay, following approval by the New York State Public Service Commission.

"We look forward to negotiations with many other towns and villages on Long Island and elsewhere in the state," said Azare. "We want to deliver FiOS TV and high-speed Internet services to consumers as quickly as possible."

In addition to New York, FiOS TV is also available to customers in parts of six other states: California, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Texas and Virginia.

FiOS TV is designed to be a formidable competitor to cable and satellite. Verizon's fiber network 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. In addition to FiOS TV, Verizon's fiber network also allows the company to offer consumers and businesses high-speed FiOS Internet service, which is currently available in many New York communities.

Verizon's FTTP network, which is the largest of its kind in the country, has industry-leading quality and reliability. It is currently under construction in more than half of the states where the company offers landline communications services, including more than 150 New York communities.

Programming choices for Hispanic, 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 http://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:

* FiOS TV Local, 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.
FiOS TV Local is also available as an analog service that does not
require a set-top box for viewing.

* FiOS TV Premier, which delivers more than 180 video and music channels
for $39.95 as a stand-alone service or $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 FiOS TV Premier service designed for
bilingual consumers who enjoy both English and Spanish language
programming, 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.
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.

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 specialized Fiber Solutions Centers.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a 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 53 million customers nationwide. Verizon Business operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks. Verizon Telecom is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 250,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. For more information, visit http://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 http://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: Heather Wilner of Verizon, +1-212-321-8333,
heather.b.wilner@verizon.com

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

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

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