Verizon at Home

[#1]

We’ve had quite a bit of 3D news to share this year, with the Yankees-Mariners games during the summer and the Giants-Patriots game back in September.  Today we’re announcing even more 3D programming with ten 3D movies on FiOS TV Video on Demand.

Starting Nov. 16 with the premiere of “Cats & Dogs: Revenge of Kitty Galore,” we’ll feature eight 3D films in November and two more in December.  The other titles are:

November:

• “Chicken Little”
• “Bolt”
• “Meet the Robinsons”
• “Journey to the Center of the Earth”
• “Under the Sea”
• “Deep Sea”
• “NASCAR”

December:

• “Disney’s A Christmas Carol”
• “Step Up 3D”

You’ll be able to find all of the 3D movies in the “High Definition” VOD folder, under HD 3D and the “Movies” VOD folder under 3D Movies.  Like our other 3D broadcasts, you’ll need FiOS TV, a high-definition set-top box, a 3D television set and the 3D glasses that came along with it to view the 3D movies.

Keep a look out here for more 3D news, and enjoy the movies!

[#2]

3D? Really? Does anyone really want this? Does anyone really enjoy the current 3D experience? O love HD, love 7 channel surround; I have my own friggin home theater, for pete's sake. I just don't get the appeal of today's 3D. I often wonder if this is more an example of what the industry insists we'll like, since they can charge a premium for it. Cynical, yes. Still...

[#3]

@mraynelson - I'm sure a lot of people felt the same way about HD when it was "the latest and greatest".  I'm not all that keen on some of the 3D movies I've seen either, but I watched a demo on a 3D TV yesterday that was a raft trip down the Colorado thru the Grand Canyon.  I have no doubt that would be equally stunning in your home theater.

So to answer your question, yes, some people do want this.

[#4]

Yes, people do want 3D.  I am one of those people!!  I have FIOS because it's the latest and greatest technology running on fiber optics.  I also have a 3DTV and would expect that FIOS to be a leader and offer not only 3D movies, but 3D TV Channels.  They dropped the ball with the 3D... and are behind Direct TV and Comcast.  I really like FIOS, but am strongly considering changing providers unless Verizon adds 3DTV channels....and quick!

Verizon, can you please give us a timeline on when you expect to offer 3D TV channels?  I'm not really that interested in the movies because I can buy and rent those from other venues.  I really want to see sports and my favorite network shows in 3D.

Thanks!

Steve

[#5]

Steve,

Verizon is and will continue to be competitive with the top providers of 3D in the marketplace.  We plan to launch ESPN 3D in 2011 and will continue to look for live sporting events in 3D, like the Yankees-Mariners games we carried regionally in July, the only televised 3D NFL game in September, and a college football game this Saturday (more to come on that in tomorrow’s blog). Although you said you weren't interested in on-demand 3D movies, we think some other 3D customers do like the convenience of on demand, and we're offering 10 3D movies on demand in November and December.

Heather

[#6]

Heather,

I'm sorry however Verizon has completely dropped the ball when it comes to providing 3d Content to the its subscribers.  For example, DirecTV and Comcast will be caring the NHL Winter Classic game in 3D.  Verizon however, has nothing planned for it.  Concerning ESPN3D, we've heard 2011, how about giving us a date rather then a year?  I do like Verizon for the high picture quality and fast internet speeds, however failing to provide content like ESPN3D and also n3D isn't being competitive. 

[#7]

Bostonian,

Verizon has offered as much – if not more – 3D content than our competitors.  We will have ESPN 3D but we don’t have a confirmed date just yet.  That being said, we’ll have about two dozen 3D movies on demand by January, in addition to the sporting events we’ve offered in the last year like the two Yankees-Mariners games, the Versus college football game, and the only televised NFL game in 3D.  

I’ll let you if I hear anything about this NHL Winter Classic game or anything else.

Heather

[#8]

I've converted plenty of 3D non-believers. The folks who said the glasses make you look dorky are the same ones with the big goofy smile reaching at the screen trying to touch a shark. 

In terms of Verizon's offerings...the baseball games and NFL game were only available to a very specific viewing market.  A dozen or so PPV VOD movies that have only been available for about a month doesn't add up to other providers that have had 3D channels available for several months.  Any provider who offered the World Cup alone would have braodcast 25 games in 3D in the matter of a month.  The deal with Disney to bring ESPN 3D to Verizon customers was completed in early October, yet we still sit with fingers crossed, hoping that you will deliver it in time for the upcoming bowl games and Winter X Games almost 3 months later. 

[#9]

So here we are on the day of the game of the Winter Classic with zero offering on Fios for 3D.

Per Engadget:

"Whether or not you've been keeping up with HBO's 24/7 episodes, most hockey fans know that the yearly outdoor Winter Classic is scheduled for tomorrow between the Penguins and Capitals, but you may not know it will also be broadcast in 3D (the second one this season.) According to the NHL's page it will be available "worldwide" and we've confirmed Comcast, Cox, DirecTV, Cablevision Shaw and Telus are on the list. They're likely not the only ones, with Versus broadcasting if your provider has a dedicated 3D event channel and the sports network (especially if they broadcast the Oregon/Cal football game earlier this fall) it's a good bet it will be on but we'd check with them first. Here's hoping that next time around (the Heritage Classic game in February will be in 3D too) there's a slightly more coordinated effort to let those who might be interested in watching know where and how to tune in."

So Comcast, Cox, DirectTV, Cablevision, and Telus will be broadcasting, but Fios fails again.  Looks like I will be watching this on Comcast at my friend's house, because FIOS makes empty promises about content.  Thanks again Verizon!  Heather where is that update?  

[#10]

....how about the BCS National Championship Game?   That is going to be broadcast in 3d, but not by FIOS it seems.   I second the above comments...FIOS is clearly lagging in the 3D BROADCAST arena, not talking about on-demand children's films.

[#11]

we need the bcs championship in 3d.  we already missed out on the fiest bowl!

[#12]

Heather have you ignored us? Do I need to contact Verizon corporate to report broken promises made by their staff? With zero responses like this, it is tempting to switch back to Comcast. They at least currently carry two full time 3d stations.

[#13]

"Verizon has offered as much – if not more – 3D content than our competitors. " 

Seriously?  Stop it already.

[#14]

Hi, Bostonian,

I'm not ignoring you, but I don't have any more to report than I did in my Dec. 29 comment in this string, which was a week ago.  We will certainly post more 3D news here, including the launch date of ESPN 3D on FiOS TV, when we have it.

Heather

[#15]

mondays the big game and no espn 3d on verizon. im disapointed might have to goto direct tv if verizon can not get there act together with 3d channels

[#16]

FIOS has totally botched their 3D content and moreso communications regarding 3D content.  Nobody (from on-line & phone support to the people manning the FIOS TV kiosks at certain Verizon stores) has a clue about 3D content.  I didn't find out of the Oregon/Cal game until after the game was played.  I did learn about the replay of this event in 3D via pay-per-view, but only because I went through several channels of support.  Then, it was only on ppv for a week and a half and they pulled it right before Thanksgiving (when I finally had time to watch this and would have been nice to show to family and friends).

How hard would it be to have a dedicated FIOS 3D web page with updates???  I mean come on!  Heather - you'd be a superstar if you could get someone on this.

Perfect example - what about tonights BCS Championship game???  ESPN 3D is broadcasting it in 3D, but absolutely no word if FIOS is broadcasting as a special event or if they'll have it on ppv afterwards again (would be nice, but not as nice as having it LIVE).

[#17]

Well, Again after searching everywhere for the last week looking for something telling me Verizon would be telecasting a huge game in 3D...NOTHING!!! Verizon missed the Winter Classic - subscribers and fans complain...NOTHING!!! BCS Championship game - A huge game that Verizon could have used to springboard telecasting in 3D...NOTHING!!! So with that said, I'm taking my Sony glasses to my buddy's house to watch the BCS game on his Sony TV via Comcast!!! Verizon wanted to let you know that Comcast will be broadcasting 24\7 ESPN 3D starting on Feb 14th. You may want to start broadcastinog 3D before you lose another subscriber.

[#18]

we're missing it right now!

[#19]

Eck715,

Sorry you didn't learn about the Oregon/Cal game in 3D until after the game was played.  We let customers know about it through this blog, a news release and with a message on the IMG for a week.  but we didn't use a dedicated web page, so you might want to submit this idea in the Verizon Idea Exchange in the Verizon Community Forums.  Thank you  for suggesting it.  In the meantime, we will continue to post new information about 3D content  here at the Verizon at Home blog as it becomes available.

Heather

[#20]

I totally agree with "kinney" and am on the verge of switching back to Comcast and absolutely will (along with all my verizon services - phone and internet and even cut ties with Verizon Wireless) is the Superbowl is not carried live in 3D on FIOS.  If you miss that, you can't call yourselves a communications company.

HEATHER - Please advise on FIOS's plans with regards to the Superbowl in 3D!

[#21]

HEATHER - Also, as a user, do I really need to search through blogs to get my information?  How can there not be a centralized 3D information source, or at least a way to sign up for email alerts on 3D programming???  I will say, the 3D content on PPV has improved (now about 15 offerings) and another handful via HBO 3D.  But live, sports related content has drastically trailed all competition (DirectTV, Comcast, etc).

[#22]

I hear the Sony Open from Hawaii looked great in 3D over the weekend.   No worries, only 10 of your competitors carried the broadcast. 

The Winter X Games is in a couple of weeks...now is your chance to retract this statement:

"Verizon is and will continue to be competitive with the top providers of 3D in the marketplace. "

[#23]

For those following this thread - there's a free UFC on demend event in 3D and its absolutely sick wathcing something like this in 3D.  However, it just makes me urn for more 3D programming content.

Speaking of which, anyone have any idea what happened to all the 3D movies that were on-demand?  They seemed to have gone away under OnDemand>HD>3D???

[#24]

Eck715,

You can still find the on-demand 3D movies in the VOD folder.  In the FiOS TV Menu, go to Video on Demand and then click Browse All, then Movies and HD3D Movies. Enjoy!

Heather

[#25]

Bought a new LG 47LW5600 with 3D capabililty. Verizon tech advised me that you can order a 3D VOD movie but you have to watch it in 2D because they don't offer 3D. What gives. 

I can get some silly 3D stuff on the Food channel, but when I try to get it via VOD I just get a double image that would take a cross-eyed monster to see.

So I guess the tech gal was right. i.e. Verizon really doesn't offer 3D movies via VOD.

Or does the left hand not know what the right hand is doing here at least in the Philly area

[#26]

prescoop,

Congratulations on getting the new 3D-capable TV -- and sorry that you've received confusing information about whether Verizon FiOS TV offers 3D VOD. We definitely do offer 3D movies on FiOS, but it sounds like you need to adjust your TV to interpret  the split images you're seeing. This is a function found in the TV's settings.  After making that adjustment on your TV, go to the Video on Demand folder in the FiOS guide and click Browse All and then 3D Movies to see what's available.  Here's a link to some more information about getting started with 3D on FiOS.

http://www22.verizon.com/ResidentialHelp/FiOSTV/Guide/TV+Programming/QuestionsOne/128624.htm