International Entertainment News: Verizon Expands FiOS TV Service to More Southeastern Pennsylvania Consumers

Verizon Expands FiOS TV Service to More Southeastern Pennsylvania Consumers

New Fiber-Optic Network Service Available in 14 additional Communities in Bucks, Chester, and Delaware Counties

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- An innovative, reliable and competitive alternative to cable TV is coming to consumers in 14 more communities in the greater Philadelphia area as Verizon expands its all-fiber FiOS TV offering in the region.

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.

FiOS TV now is available to 75,345 households in parts of the Bucks County townships of Lower Makefield, Upper Makefield, Newtown, Wrightstown, Doylestown, Warminster, Warrington and Warwick, and the borough of Newtown; the Chester County townships of East Marlborough, East Whiteland and West Whiteland, and the borough of Phoenixville; and the Delaware County township of Newtown.

Verizon launched FiOS TV service last month to 80,000 households in parts of 35 communities in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

(NOTE: See attached list of all Pennsylvania communities where FiOS TV currently is available.)

"The new year is starting right for consumers in these communities who now have a better choice for their TV service," said William B. Petersen, president of Verizon Pennsylvania. "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."

Consumers can check online at www.verizon.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 1-888-619-5388.

Service Highlights

Verizon's FiOS TV Premier package delivers 200 all-digital channels for $42.99 per month. The package includes more than 20 high-definition (HD) channels in the Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia market will also receive SportsNet Philadelphia at no extra charge.

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.

New FiOS TV features that customers will see this year include:

-- 2D and 3D video games - interactive console-like games that customers
will play on the TV.

-- An Internet portal to manage certain FiOS TV features such as channel
favorites and parental controls. Customers will also be able to use
their cell phones to program the DVR.

-- Home shopping - customers will use their remote control to buy products
from home-shopping shows. They also will be able to use the remote to
purchase products tied to shows and movies, such as soundtracks and
T-shirts.

-- Interactive game shows - customers will extend the TV-viewing
experience by using their remote control to answer game-show questions
or vote for contestants.

-- DVD on Demand -- access to a library of DVD-based content, including
games and how-to and educational titles that provide information-
enriched content.

-- Enhanced search capability that makes it easy for customers to do a
global search of titles, actors, singers and other information across
the TV, DVR and video-on-demand content.

-- More international programming for Verizon's diverse customers. FiOS
TV provides 16 international a la carte channels today, and it will
triple the number of international channels early next year.

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 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.

FiOS TV currently is available in parts
of the following southeastern Pennsylvania communities:
(NOTE: FiOS TV is newly available to communities marked by an *)

Montgomery County

Ambler Borough
Horsham Township
Lower Gwynedd Township
Montgomery Township
Springfield Township
Upper Dublin Township
Whitpain Township
Hatfield Borough
Hatfield Township
Lansdale Borough
Towamencin Township
Upper Gwynedd Township
Upper Providence Township
Upper Merion Township

Bucks County

Hulmeville Borough
Bensalem Township
Langhorne Manor Borough
Lower Southampton Township
Lower Makefield Township*
Upper Makefield Township*
Newtown Township*
Newtown Borough*
Wrightstown Township*
Doylestown Township*
Warminster Township*
Warrington Township*
Warwick Township*

Chester County

Charlestown Township
East Pikeland Township
Schuylkill Township
Tredyffrin Township
Easttown Township
West Pikeland Township
Birmingham Township
East Bradford Township
East Goshen Township
Pocopson Township
Thornbury Township
West Bradford Township
West Chester Borough
West Goshen Township
Westtown Township
East Marlborough Township*
East Whiteland Township*
West Whiteland Township*
Phoenixville Borough*