Verizon FiOS TV in New York Celebrates Two-Year Anniversary

Verizon FiOS TV in New York Celebrates Two-Year Anniversary

Services, Customer Base Have Grown With FiOS TV Now Available in More Than 145 New York Communities

NEW YORK, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon's FiOS TV service in New York state marks its second year of operation Thursday (Jan. 24), with increased services and a continuously growing customer base that is enjoying a new choice for video entertainment.

"Watching FiOS TV expand in our state has been truly remarkable, as we launch the service to more and more communities and see customers signing up in droves," said Maura Breen, Verizon senior vice president and general manager for New York. "We're not surprised to see such wonderful customer response. Consumers recognize the power of FiOS and want to take part in this new, revolutionary entertainment experience."

Verizon has launched FiOS TV in more than 145 New York communities through video franchises that have been approved by communities on Long Island and in Westchester, Rockland and Orange counties, with more on the way.

Consumers have witnessed the dramatic growth of both FiOS TV and FiOS Internet in New York, with a number of increased offerings and the addition of new services. For example, the number of channels included in the all-digital FiOS TV Premier package has grown from 180 to more than 200, with a 55 percent increase in high-definition channels, from 20 to 31. Last year, Verizon introduced innovative features not available from other providers, such as Home Media DVR (digital video recorder). Home Media DVR 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.

Earlier this month, Verizon introduced FiOS TV's new interactive media guide in New York. The new guide helps customers quickly and easily find and enjoy content from TV listings, video-on-demand catalogs and digital video recorders as well as personal music and photos from the home network.

FiOS Internet has also experienced several changes in the last few years, with even faster broadband speeds. Verizon currently offers New York consumers several tiers of service with downstream (download) connection speeds of up to 10, 20 and 50 Mbps (megabits per second) and upstream (upload) connection speeds of up to 20 Mbps.* In October 2007, the company introduced a new, symmetrical Verizon FiOS Internet service for consumers, featuring an upload and download speed of up to 20 Mbps. This groundbreaking new service is the first of its kind commercially available on a mass scale to U.S. consumers.

"Fiber optics all the way to a customer's home changes everything, and consumers know it," said Monica Azare, Verizon senior vice president for New York and Connecticut. "Each and every day, consumers are dropping their cable company and taking hold of the fiber-optic advantages, including incredible pictures and sound clarity as well as innovative new services -- all from a brand they know and trust."

Verizon's FiOS services are delivered over the company's advanced fiber- optic network straight to customers' homes and businesses. This is unlike cable TV systems and has never been done on a large scale before in the United States.

Verizon's FiOS TV Premier package delivers 200 all-digital channels, including 31 high-definition (HD) channels in the New York market and access to more than 10,000 on-demand titles, 60 percent of which are free.

New York consumers can check online at www.verizon.com/ny/savebig to see if FiOS TV is already available in their area, or to request that Verizon contact them when FiOS TV becomes available. Customers also can call their local Verizon sales office or 888-438-3467.

* NOTE: actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, 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 63.7 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of nearly 238,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

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/ny/savebig

Company News On-Call:

http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/094251.html

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