Verizon at Home

[#1]

If there’s one thing I like better than free programming on FiOS, it is new programming on FiOS. And today, I have a lot of new programming to tell you about. 

We recently completed the launch of 10 – yes 10 – new channels on FiOS TV.  All 10 are Spanish-language channels and high def!  This launch makes FiOS TV the nation’s leading provider of Spanish-language programming, with up to 75 Spanish-language channels available (depending on the local channels available in your market). Plus, FiOS TV is now the leading provider of high definition Spanish-language channels nationwide.

The 10 channels cover a wide range of topics, including family and kids programming, movies, news and more. They are Multimedios Television and Olympusat’s Ultra HDPlex: Ultra Cine, Ultra Fiesta, Ultra Kidz, Ultra Mex, Ultra Luna, Ultra Macho, Ultra Film, Ultra Docu and Ultra Clásico. (See channel descriptions below.) You can find the new programming in FiOS TV’s La Conexion and Spanish-language packages.

Michelle Webb, Verizon’s director of content strategy and acquisition, said, “Our customers have told us that high-quality Spanish-language programming helps to keep their culture alive, and we’re helping to make that happen by giving them the content that they want.  Verizon is offering our FiOS TV customers the best – and the most – Spanish-language channels as well as the largest Spanish-language HD offering in the nation.” 

And there’s more to come. Just last week we announced that Verizon has a new agreement with Univision that provides our FiOS TV customers with Univision’s broadcast stations, its cable network Galavisión, and network feeds for Univision and TeleFutura. In addition, we’ll be launching three new channels: sports network Univision Deportes, telenoveles network Univision tlnovelas and news network FOROtv. Plus, all of the Univision programming will become available online through UVideos, Univision’s new video platform that allows viewers to interact with the programming.

We’ll have more new programming to tell you about soon, so check back here for updates. 

Channel descriptions: 

• Ultra Cine (FiOS TV channel 1690) – A contemporary HD movie network, Ultra Cine focuses on award winning and original films from Mexico, Spain and Latin America, shown in their original Spanish format.

• Ultra Fiesta (FiOS TV channel 1670) – As the first HD Latino music network in the U.S. produced by music industry insiders, Ultra Fiesta features the best in Latin music from music videos, news, concerts and much more. 

• Ultra Kidz (FiOS TV channel 1730) – The first entertainment channel for kids in HD, providing pre-school programming in the mornings and then transitioning to older kids and teens programs in the afternoons and programs for the entire family at night.  

• Ultra Mex (FiOS TV channel 1692) – Ranging from independent productions to Hollywood studio hits, Ultra Mex is the only HD movie channel in the U.S. carrying truly contemporary Mexican films with the best actors and directors from Mexico.

• Ultra Luna (FiOS TV channel 1585) – Catering to the Latino woman, Ultra Luna delivers new and edgy telenovelas, as well as captivating series and programming all in HD that that always has the female audience in mind. 

• Ultra Macho (FiOS TV channel 1650) – Dedicated to Latino men, this new HD channel features the best in travel, extreme sports, late night adult series, news, reality shows and original programming created to satisfy the distinguished male taste.

• Ultra Film (FiOS TV channel 1691) – The first HD movie network dedicated to airing modern films from around the world dubbed into Spanish for the U.S. Hispanic audience.

• Ultra Docu (FiOS TV channel 1570) – Ultra Docu provides access to a collection of documentaries on Latin American topics some of which have never been seen in the U.S., as well as lifestyle and human-interest programming from around the globe in HD.

• Ultra Clásico (FiOS TV channel 1693) – Comprised of digitally remastered movies from the Golden age of Mexican and Latin American Cinema, Ultra Clásico features iconic classics and award winning movies from 1930-1980 fully restored to their original glory and in HD.         

• Multimedios (FiOS TV channel 1516) – Multimedios offers original programming for the entire family including news, music, game shows, sports, reality TV and programs for children and women that are among the most tweeted TV programs on Mexican television. 

[#2]

Sorry if I am LESS than enthusiastic about this announcement. What about your english speaking subscirbers, the ones you've  been ignoring for years?  The ones who have been patiently waiting YEARS now for BBCA-HD, Cartoon-HD (Verizon is the ONLY major cable company who does NOT carry this), GolTV HD, H2 HD, the NASA Channel, Fox Soccer Plus HD, ESPN Desportes HD, G4 HD and on and on and on..... Our patience is really wearing thin.

[#3]

Heather, what about all the english language HD channels Verizon has been promising for over 2 years?  When are we going to get those?

BBC America HD

CBS Sports Network HD

These are 2 of the most requested channels and they have been promised for a long time to no avail...Why are you able to add all these spanish channels but none of the english channels we have been waiting for?  If Fios is going to continue to focus on their spanish speaking customers, please let us know now so we can take our business elsewhere...

The Pac 12 Networks will be launched this fall, so Verizon has a lot of work to do.

[#4]

Pathetic. Verizon takes away premium channel HD's, won't add barely anything new in years, ups the rates, and in turn rewards with channels I can't even listen to.

Wake up Verizon.  You're greatly losing the word of mouth battle by angering more and more customers.

[#5]

Seriously what's next? A roll out of 30 more ESPN, an additional 15 . TV and another 10 Sp channels it amazes me. My friends used to be jealous of my Fios TV now they all keep up on what's going on just so they can bust me on it.. Comcrap,Dish and Direct Tv have now left Fios in the dust. The only argument Fios has left is the PQ but even that has gone down hill and in all reality  if the majority of my viewing options are .tv,Spanish and redundant sports channels then the Pq doesn't really matter... I would much rather have a full balanced channel line up with lesser Pq especially with all the rate hikes to serve us better.........

[#6]

It is nice that our Spanish speaking neighbors have more choices.  It seems to me, that new content for English speaking customers is very limited.  I sincerely hope that whatever needs to be done is done to add new HD channels.  Other operators have more content, maybe not the quality.  I hope that one day we will receive an annoucement of new channels soon.  Please listen to your subscribers.

[#7]

LOOK AT DIRECTV.

Get at least what they have. I will pay you more, and take down my dish!

We don't need HD Mexico!

SurPeru?

SurPeru?

SurPeru?

[#8]

I can understand and appreciate your comments, as I know there are channels that you all would like to see added to the FiOS TV lineup. We have plans in place to add more HD this year, and I will certainly keep you updated. While these Spanish-language channels may not appeal to some, they are important to others. We'll continue to add new programming - on FiOS TV, on demand, online and on smartphones - that appeals to all of our customers. As always, thank you for the feedback.

[#9]

Heather_Wilner

Thank you. Not to over express my opinion, but even I feel to be entiltled to one, or two, or three, etc.....

Right now I am paying for FiOS TV and Directv. I would rather just give all my money to Verizon.

Even though I complain like everyone else, I am still a BIG FiOS fan.

Have a good evening

Mark

PS.

I also have to somewhat agree here with Bobbo527. Like Nasa is up there, and BBCA-HD has over 400 votes. The HD feed from NASA is great on my PC.

Now if you said, "Sur Peru is here", I would be happy for my wife. But no I canceled my spanish add on years ago, the day after I signed up for FiOS.

I don't need everything he wants but I agree with these.

BBCA-HD,

Cartoon-HD

H2 HD

NASA Channel NOW IN HD!

G4 HD

[#10]

Heather, thanks for your response. I hope you know that, above all else, you have two enormous, VERY NOTICEABLE holes in your HD lineup, the two that are requested more than any others: BBC America HD and Cartoon Network HD. I would say this is inarguable (except maybe to hardcore sports nuts). You say "I know there are channels that you all would like to see added to the FiOS TV lineup" as if there are a vast number of different channel requests being thrown around, but surely you realize those are the two that need to be at the top of the list. You have hundreds of votes for BBCA HD on the Verizon Ideas page, and CN is a top-10 cable channel. I don't know why Verizon seems to be dawdling and goofing around on these two very important channels for years and years and years. Is Time Warner demanding some unusually high price for Cartoon Network HD? What do they want, all the Verizon executives' first-born? Come on. There are a LOT of cable and satellite subscribers who will not switch over to FiOS because of this two enormous gaping holes in your lineup. It is WORTH IT to you to EXPEDITE this, instead of moving at 0.00002 miles per hour as Verizon usually does. Like the above commenter, I count myself as a fan of FiOS, but it can't reach its full potential to decimate cable companies with two gaping massive holes in its HD lineup, while the competition keeps adding HD channels, not just catching up but passing you by.

[#11]

Heather, Hello!

I must also chime in here.   BBCAmerica HD and the Cartoon Network HD are the highest requested non sports HD channels that we still do not have.  All your competition has them by now. We need to expedite including acquiring this and many other HD channels in the lineup. This is important to do before the perception of FiOS not keeping up with its competition grows to a point  where either many of our customers leave FiOS or new customer won't subscribe to FiOS because all the competition has better channel lineups by now.

johnf2

[#12]

My colleagues here certainly know about the requests for both BBC HD and Cartoon Network HD. Both channels are slated to launch this year. As soon as I have more details on timing, I'll let everyone know. Thanks again for all the feedback!

[#13]

Heather, what about CBS Sports Network HD?  Is it going to be available before college football season starts?

[#14]

Why are we only getting non english speaking channels?  Whether it is HD or SD.   Here we are in the Philadelphia market and we can not watch all our sports in HD.   Why is that?    But I can get YES (Yankees) HD and now I can watch a HD soccer game in spanish.   All you have done is take away channels and raise our rates.  

Fiber Optics was supposed to be this event changing product.  All I see is all the other cable providers passing you by.    

I''ve been a loyal customer and have enjoyed your HD picture quality, but quite frankly,  I'm tired of watching local sports on your service that is not in HD.   Now we are getting all these spanish stations.  I don't get it.

 I'm ready to make the switch back to my old provider.  That has all the HD channels Fios is missing.  

TCN HD

Headline News HD

Cartonn Channel HD

Cartoon Netword HD
CBS Sports HD

EWTN HD 

Thank you,

A disappointed customer. 

[#15]

How about completing the HD versions of the multiplex movie packages that I'm already paying for?

• There are 3 Showtime premium channels that we get in SD and are offered in HD that we do not have access to.
• There are 2 Starz premium networks that we have in SD and are offered in HD that we do not have access to
• Sundance channel has been offered in HD for years but we have it only in SD

I also believe there is an HD version of the BBC World News channel that we are not getting.

[#16]

I'll believe you're giving us BBC America and Cartoon Network HD the moment they get turned on, and not a moment before. Joe lied to us for nearly two years straight about them being "in the queue," and nothing personal, but I don't think anyone at FiOS has any credibility whatsoever on this topic. 

[#17]

I have to agree with everyone else and if no HD is added by the time my contract is up in October I plan to go back to Cox where they have History 2 HD Cartoon Hd BBC America Hd Plus about 10-15 more. They have had these channels for years. Verizon is behind and not listening. Why stay?

[#18]

I concur with  the above post...Why Fios isn't providing the heavily requested Hd channels that the other cable operators have is beyond reason.  Except with that one aspect I'm satisfied with my service but will  definetely switch when my contract is up.

[#19]

I am with you all as well. Been a subscriber since 2008 and for the first 3 years I could not have been happier. But over the last Year+ I haven't been. I left Comcast in 2008 because they never added anything new, were doing nothing but removing channels, blatantly lying to their subscribers saying the dropped channels were for their benefit, lied about their services and ignoring what they wanted. And in the last year or 2 Verizon has been doing these exact same things, and there has been a noticeable decline in picture quality as well. When I first signed up Verizon was the TRUE LEADER in HD programming, too bad that is just a distant memory now.

My contract is up in October and if by that time if all we are getting are more Spanish and .tv channels (and lip service and lies about HD) I'm going to switch as well. I don't want to leave, I've been happy for the most part, but it almost seems like Verizon is daring us to go. It may take an exodus of subscribers for Verizon to start taking their customers seriously (and actually delivering the programming we want and are willing to pay for, that is what happened at Comcast).

[#20]

Hello Heather,

This is great news for me as I'm a big follower of Mexican soccer. As a lot of it has moved to Univision Deportes from Telefutura and Galavision, this is a huge relief.

My question is, when will the channels be launched on fios? I currently don't see it in the listing and I've looked all over and can't find an answer. Thanks!

[#21]

I certainly understand the frustration that some of you are feeling. My colleagues here assure me that plans are in the works to launch more HD channels in the coming months and I certainly expect to see them by October. As soon as I have more details, I will share them here.

[#22]

@guidomurgula  The channels have launched! The channel numbers are all listed above. Please note, these channels are only available with La Conexion and the Spanish-language package, so you need to subscribe to one of the two.

[#23]

Heather,

October is not soon enough for CBS Sports Network and the Pac 12 Network.  College football season starts at the beginning of September.   Much of our Pac 12 content is switching from our local RSNs to the Pac-12 Network.  If you don't carry these channels by September we will be watching them on another provider.  This is not up for debate as So Cal fans will not pay hundreds of dollars per month for TV and then not be able to watch our local teams in HD.  This goes for the Lakers new RSN as well and the Dodgers as they could be switching RSNs by next season.  Sports are the sole reason I have subscribed to FiOS TV.  If you don't have the teams I want in HD I will not be your customer.

[#24]

Heather,

Everytime we hear of new HD channels, it's been Spanish this or Spanish that. My contract is up in August. Some of my friends have dumped Verizon and gone back to Comcast because they too are tired of Verizon promising more and delivering nothing. Give us an idea what channels! If, as you say they are going to add some, Verizon knows what they are. Please tell us.

I'm sorry to say, this August it's back to Comcast. The Comcast network in HD (flyers!) , BBC America HD.....yes. I'm willing to give up a little quality in picture for more quality in choices.

Heather, give me a reason to stay besides promises.

[#25]

Heather,

I joined the FIOS community in June and would also like to echo previous comments about BBCA in HD. I was hopeful to have in place by the debut of "Copper" later this month. I would also like to throw out one channel for HD that I haven't seen requested previously, Turner Classic Movies. We had this at my old provider Cablevision (as well as BBCA) and it does make a difference even on an old black & white movie. Also avoids horrible viewing of later color widescreen releases that are both "letterboxed" and "window paned" on FIOS. Thanks for the consideration and look forward to new HD releases shortly as the competition definitely has begun to pass you by in this regard.

WFG