Verizon at Home

[#1]

There’s no question that 3D TV will be the next flashy development in home entertainment.  The surge in equipment suppliers displaying 3D TVs at this January’s Consumer Electronics Show foretold that 2010 would be the year 3D emerged.

And, of course, there’s the theatrical success of “Avatar” on the big screen, giving millions of people their first taste of 3D not generated by red and blue lenses in cardboard frames.

Just this month, 3D TVs and projectors have gone on sale. NOTE: You need a special 3D-ready TV to see 3D at home; a regular HD TV, even a new one, won’t show 3D. That’s because it’s the TV set that takes a 3D video feed, with separate channels created for each eye, and allows stereoscopic perception of the images.

Verizon’s network can easily handle the 3D signal, and we are committed to having a 3D offering later this year, surely in time for the holiday tech buying season, when the penetration of 3D-ready sets increases.  Just as we did with HD, we’ll bring the broadest range of 3D possible to the market supported by the best technology and customer service.

Until then, you’ll see various grandstanding plays by cable companies who also produce content and can play it on their networks in 3D, hoping to make headlines with their “firsts” while excluding Verizon and other competitors from carrying this material.  Is it unrealistic to think integrated operators should share their 3D content with all their viewers, even those served by others?

Verizon is actively at work developing its 3D strategy and service options. Video-on- demand, pay per view and broadcast choices are in play.  Verizon is focused not only on the most content, but also on the best customer experience.  That’s why you’ll see us enter the market with a rational, satisfying 3D package, not flashes of 3D titillation.

So stand by.  3D is coming to a flat screen near you, as things sort out and the market catches up to the technology.

[#2]

Forget about 3D.  How about a decent DVR?

[#3]

Sounds like Cablevision is already planning on keeping the upcoming 3D games on MSG all to themselves, and the other non-competing cable companies of course.

[#4]

I agree with berkman711...   I can record 80 hours of SD, 10 hours of HD (if I am lucky) and I bet a half an hour of 3D. Before they invest in any 3D programming they need to get a good DVR that works with halfway decent record times.

[#5]

I agree, an improved DVR that has 4 tuners is needed now and then see about 3DTV later.

[#6]

Based on my past, I will probably purchase a 3D set, but not until they get much cheaper than what is expected for the next couple of years.  The other comments about storage space and features really need to be addressed in the immediate future - next quarter  - before I will get happy about 3D.

[#7]

There is a brand new DVR from TVIO that has 45 hr of HD recording plus you can hook up a hard drive to get 100's of extra hour, but there is a monthly fee.  The best new DVR on the market is called MOXI http://www.moxi.com/us/moxi_dvr.html  3 turner unlimited HD recording and NO monthly fee.. - all you need a a smart card from verizon that plugs into you TV.

As far as MSG and cablevision goes there is a new law on the books called equal access.  If the cable provider owns the content they must provide the same content (HD.3D, Program) to other cable providers or they will be fined.

[#8]

Here are some links to the New FCC law That Comcast and Cablevision opposed and Verizon won out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/business/13cable.html?scp=1&sq=Federal%20court%20upholds%20FCC%20a...  NYT

http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/federal-court-upholds-fcc-access-rules-for-cable-programm...  News Wire

http://www.startribune.com/science/87467827.html?elr=KArksCiUo3PD:3D_V_qD3L:c7cQKUiacyKUnciaec8O7EyU...  Star

[#9]

bfried7,

Thanks for the links to the articles.  For more on this topic, see our recent blog post:

http://forums.verizon.com/t5/Verizon-at-Home/Verizon-Asks-the-FCC-to-Rule-on-Program-Access-Complain...

Jim