Verizon says it’s heading to the top of the HD heap, launching a fresh promise of 150 HD channels on its FiOS service, a fivefold increase from current offerings. Verizon said it is also planning a major expansion of sports and multicultural programming on FiOS TV in 2008.
In sheer numbers, the promised programming would top DirecTV’s plan for about 100 channels by the end of 2007.
The company said it would first double its current lineup of HD channels, on a market-by-market basis, to more than 60, including additional sports channels, and will top 150 HD channels by the end of 2008.
The company also said it would offer a limited number of HD on-demand titles, growing to more than 1,000 HD titles in 2008.
In 2008, Verizon will also enhance its Home Media DVR service to let viewers record HD shows and watch them from any room in the house with an HDTV and an HD set-top box, the company said.
Verizon said that from June through September, 202,000 new customers signed up for its FiOS TV, bringing the company’s subscriber rolls to 717,000 in 12 states.
