Verizon Cuts FiOS TV’s Last Analog Channels
Telco Finishes Move to All-Digital Transmission As Part of Deal With FCC
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 11/24/2008 8:36:00 AM
Verizon Communications said it has completely eliminated analog simulcasts of local TV channels across its 14-state FiOS TV footprint under its commitment to the Federal Communications Commission to move to all-digital transmission by February 2009.
The telco this April began phasing out the “small number” of duplicate analog channels it made available through FiOS TV, provided to customers so they could view local broadcast programming on TVs without set-top boxes.
Verizon started in New York and continued through its other territories, with Texas the final market where the changeover occurred.
In June 2007, Verizon told the FCC it would eliminate analog channels before the Feb. 17, 2009, digital TV transition. The agency granted temporary waivers to its ban on set-tops with integrated security functions, which went into effect July 1, 2007, to pay-TV providers who committed to migrating operations to all-digital.
According to the FCC, encouraging providers to eliminating analog video would "enable expanded service offerings, promote efficient use of the spectrum, deliver broadband services, spur competitive entry and expand universal service."
With the elimination of analog channels, FiOS TV customers need to have a set-top box or digital converter for every TV set on which they want to view programming unless those TVs have built-in digital QAM tuners.
Verizon provided customers one Motorola DCT700 set-top at no charge, with each additional box $3.99 per month. The DCT700s cannot receive the FiOS interactive program guide or video-on-demand services.
The company said it notified customers of the digital transition by letters, e-mails, phone calls and on-screen messages, and also set up a dedicated Web site to provide answers to common questions about the change.
Verizon counted 1.6 million FiOS TV customers as of the end of September. The TV service is currently available to more than 7 million homes in 14 states.
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Yet another success story for FiOS: all digital, most and highest quality SD/HD, fastest and most reliable Internet...ok, and overpriced landline.
We've had the Triple Play since our install back in April. Althought we didn't need a landline, the Flex Bundle wasn't available until recently. Anyway, I got tired of not being able to watch the Fox News HD, Fox Business HD, and ABC Family HD channels, so I called into Verizon about switching to the Flex Bundle. The CSR told me that switching would still incur a $200 cancellation fee. However, she also said that I could be moved to the upgraded Triple Play Bundle for the same price of $109.99 (upgrade to 20/5 Internet, upgrade to ExtremeHD, same old unneeded landline). Plus, we actually saved a few bucks since the DVR fee was waived for three months...and the new 12-month contract actually shaved 4-months off my existing contract.
Happy Camper here! I'll try to get rid of the landline again next year, but we love FiOS Internet and TV. If you want the new HD channels...give Verizon a call and see if they switch you over to a new bundle. The only weak link about FiOS TV is their HD DVR...if only they would field a better DVR that supported external storage. (TiVo HD is surprisingly no better, and more expensive, than the FiOS box)
Dick Lengthy - 11/26/2008 3:16:00 PM EST -
Verizon FIOS communications were never quite clear.
And another thing FIOS is not telling any customers, that I know of, is that while there are many more HD channels, we customers cannot get them because we did not "subscribe" to them. I have not received one, not one, communication from Verizon FIOS about this.
FIOS is good; communication and billing is bad.
Neal Stevens - 11/25/2008 2:26:00 PM EST
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