DIRECTV NewsA Blog on Satellite TV News

E! Entertainment and Verizon Wireless have partnered to launch a new video channel on the Verizon Hub. “E! Video” available on Verizon Hub will control the communication center in the home. The communication center will bridge wireline and wireless connectivity and runs on any broadband connection. The Verizon Hub allows to navigate on touch screen with on-demand access to an array of services. Program offerings on the E! video channel include daily segments from the network’s popular franchises “E! News,” “Daily 10″ and “The Soup.”

John Najarian, executive vice president of digital media and business development for Comcast Entertainment Group said “we are excited to expand our relationship with Verizon Wireless to bring E!’s popular programming to Verizon Hub customers, in addition to our E! channel on Verizon Wireless’ V CAST service, the Verizon Hub offers fans another great way to keep up with the latest celebrity news and entertainment.”

The Ski Channel will be launched on December 25th and will reach 15 Million households in US. The channel also reached a carriage deal with DirecTV and Verizon Communications. The Ski Channel will broadcast mountain activities such as hiking, biking, backpacking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, etc., and also with many off-slope activities. The channels also plans to bring magazine shows, movies, events, news and weather.

The network will be available on DIRECTV on Demand service for DirecTV subscribers and Verizon FiOS TV’s video-on-demand (VOD) service will serve the channel to its subscribers.

The Ski Channel has rights to broadcast over 250 hours of content and also to acquire more original programming and has a deal with Mountain Sports Media to broadcast some of the most famous films in skiing, from the Warren Miller Entertainment library, as well as their television series Thrills and Spills.

Steve Bellamy, Chairman and CEO of The Ski Channel said “It has been an incredible month for us; we closed a significant capital raise. If we close all the ad deals on the table – we will hit our first year’s number before we launch, we have added a ton of incredible programming, we will be announcing more distribution shortly and we are launching on Christmas Day! The Farmers Almanac is predicting the next decade to have great snow and resorts are already opening early across the country this season.”

Verizon and Major League Baseball (MLB) have reached an agreement on Nov. 10 to offer MLB Extra Innings Package to Verizon’s FiOS TV subscribers. Verizon has reached a multi-year agreement to carry MLB Network and the MLB Extra Innings Package and the sports network will be offered to all Verizon FiOS TV subscribers who subscribe to the Essentials and Extreme HD packages.

Verizon’s agreement with MLB will allow The telco to carry both standard and high-definition version of the channel, when its launched on Jan. 1, 2009.

MLB network will make a record debut and will be available in 50 million homes on launch and will broadcast live games, original programming, highlights, classic games and coverage of baseball events.

Verizon will be provided with 80 out-of-market Major League Baseball games per week under the agreement.

Verizon will add the MLB Extra Innings Package and MLB Network FiOS TV programming lineup that offers more than 100 high-definition channels and 11,000 video-on-demand titles every month.

“Verizon FiOS TV is the best place to watch sports. Baseball fans will be able to keep up with their favorite teams and rivalries, with access to 80 games from around the country each week. And FiOS TV’s stunning rock-solid picture will make fans feel like they’re sitting right behind home plate” said Terry Denson, Vice President – FiOS TV Content and Programming.

Cox recently added five new high-definition channels in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Its clear that other operator in this area are hurrying with many new HD channels as Verizon is expanding its FIOS TV service in many markets. FiOS TV subscribers in Hampton Roads is delivered with 53 new HD channels and now receive more than 100 HD channels, 800 HD choices and 700 HD video-on-demand (VOD) titles.

Verizon is now offering FiOS TV service in Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth, Poquoson and Virginia Beach in Hampton Roads.

Verizon claims that it offers 101 HD channels which are more than any other operator including Cox, in this area. Following are the HD channels available for the FiOS TV subscribers:

ABC Family, Animal Planet, Cinemax, Disney Channel, ESPNews, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, FX, HBO, Mav TV, MGM, Planet Green, QVC, Science Channel, Showtime Pack, Smithsonian Channel, Speed, Starz Pack, Superstation WGN, The Biography Channel, The Hallmark Movie Channel, The Movie Channel, The Movie Channel Xtra, The Tennis Channel, The Travel Channel, TLC, Toon Disney and World Fishing Network

Mary Ellen Payne, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Verizon’s Potomac region said “FiOS TV is the only service to consider if you want the ultimate HD experience, with our increased number of HD channels, along with HD video-on-demand programming, we’re blowing cable away.”

Verizon Communications has announced on Nov. 6 that it has added 55 new channels, including 53 additional high-definition channels in its FiOS TV programming line-up in the Richmond area. FiOS TV subscribers is offered with 100 high-definition channels, more than 800 HD choices available at any time and excess of 700 HD video-on-demand titles offered every month.

Verizon claims that it offers more HD channels than the cable operator Comcast in Richmond area and also planning to add more HD channels. These new HD channels added are a part of the commitment to offer more HD channels and lead the industry in quality programming.

Favorite channels:
Animal Planet HD
FX HD
Science Channel HD
Smithsonian Channel HD
Superstation WGN HD
The Biography Channel HD and
TLC HD

News Channels:
Fox Business Network HD and
Fox News Channel HD

Home and Leisure Programming:
QVC HD
The Travel Channel HD and
Planet Green HD

Kids and Teens Channels:
ABC Family HD
Disney Channel HD and
Toon Disney HD

Movie Channels
Cinemax HD
HBO HD
MGM HD
Showtime HD
Showtime HD
Showtime 2 HD
Showtime Extreme HD
Showtime Showcase HD
Starz HD
Starz Comedy HD
Starz Edge HD
Starz Kids and Family HD
The Hallmark Movie Channel HD
The Movie Channel HD and
The Movie Channel Xtra HD

Sports Channels:
ESPNews HD
Mav TV HD
Speed HD
The Tennis Channel HD and
World Fishing Network HD

Verizon also has launched two new standard-definition channels in the Richmond area:
Current TV and
RFD TV

Verizon Communications has announced that it will offer 70 premium channels free for three months for the new subscribers signing up FiOS TV before Dec. 31. Verizon also offers Home Media DVR for $15.99 a month for first three months. FiOS TV’s three premium entertainment packages are:

HBO

Cinemax and

The Movie Package

New subscribers are offered with the above premium channels free, which is normally charged $30 a month.

Verizon Communications’ 70 premium channels include 40 HD channels of

Cinemax

Sundance Channel and

The Movie Channel

Verizon vice president of video solutions Shawn Strickland said “In today’s economy, people are staying home more and going out less, Our latest promotion helps new customers experience free premium entertainment content, and lets them evaluate premium services before deciding to subscribe.”

Verizon has launched 18 new channels that include 16 high-definition and offers more than 100 HD channels on FiOS TV in Rhode Island. Verizon now offers more than 500 channels that include 102 HD and the Telco states that they offer more than 55 HD channels than Cox in Rhode Island.

Verizon has included following HD channels in Rhode Island:

Entertainment Channels:
Animal Planet HD
FX HD
Science Channel HD
Smithsonian Channel HD
Superstation WGN HD
The Biography Channel HD and
TLC HD

News Channels:
Fox Business Network HD and
Fox News Channel HD

Movie Channels:
MGM HD and
The Hallmark Movie Channel HD

Home and Leisure Programming:
QVC HD
The Travel Channel HD and
Planet Green HD

Kids and Teens:
ABC Family HD
Disney Channel HD and
Toon Disney HD

HD Sports Channels:
ESPNews HD
The Tennis Channel and
Speed HD

Apart from above HD channels, Verizon has also added following standard definition channels:

Current TV and
RFD TV

Verizon announced that new customers who sign up for FiOS TV by Dec. 31 will enjoy free access for 90 days to three premium entertainment packages like Cinemax, HBO and FiOS TV’s Movie Package and more than 9,000 free video-on-demand. Verizon said this represents free access to 70 premium channels, 40 of which are high-def such as HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and The Movie Channel.

Bob Driscoll, Verizon regional vice president of sales said “The superiority of Verizon’s all-fiber, FiOS network is what enables us to deliver the most channels and the most HD in Rhode Island, high-definition viewing is a must-have for so many of our customers, and we are making more of it available all the time — more than any other cable TV provider. We can stay ahead of the competition because our programming runs on our 100 percent fiber network all the way to the home.

Verizon Communications has launched 53 high-definition channels in its FiOS TV programming line-up in Washington, D.C. The telco is now offering more than 100 HD channels in Washington, D.C. Verizon claims that they offer more HD channels than any other cable operator in this area. Verizon new HD channels include:

ABC Family HD

TLC HD and

Toon Disney HD

Verizon offers 12 new HD channels from HBO and nine from Cinemax in HD and Movie Package offers13 new HD channels from The Movie Channel, Starz and Showtime, including The Movie Channel Xtra, Starz Edge, Starz Comedy, Starz Kids and Family, Showtime, Showtime Showcase, Showtime Extreme and Showtime 2.

Mary Ellen Payne, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Verizon’s Potomac region “FiOS TV is the only service to consider if you want the ultimate HD experience, With our increased number of HD channels, along with HD video-on-demand programming, we’re blowing cable away.”

Verizon has launched 88 new channels, including 66 additional high-definition channels in FiOS TV programming line-up in California. Verizon now offers more than 100 HD channels and this is more than any other operators like Charter and Time Warner Cable in California. FiOS TV subscribers are blessed with 102 HD channels, 800 HD VOD titles available at any time and excess of 700 high-definition video-on-demand (VOD) titles offered each month. Following are the new channels launched:

Animal Planet HD
Bravo HD
FX HD
History Channel HD
Lifetime HD
SCI FI HD
Science Channel HD
Smithsonian Channel HD
TBS HD
The Biography Channel HD
TLC HD
USA HD and
Weather Channel HD

Verizon’s HD News Channels

CNN HD
CNBC HD
Fox Business Network HD and
Fox News Channel HD

Home and Leisure Programming in HD

Planet Green HD
QVC HD and
The Travel Channel HD

Kids and Teens HD Channels

ABC Family HD
Disney Channel HD and
Toon Disney HD

Movie Channels

MGM HD
The Hallmark Movie Channel HD
Cinemax – 11 HD channels
HBO – 13 HD channels and
The Movie Channel – 13 HD channels

FiOS TV customers in California will get more movie HD channels through Starz and Showtime, which includes The Movie Channel Xtra HD, Starz Edge HD, Starz Comedy HD, Starz Kids and Family HD, Showtime HD, Showtime Showcase HD, Showtime Extreme HD and Showtime 2 HD.

Sports Channels in HD

Big Ten Network HD
The Tennis Channel HD
NHL Network HD
Versus HD/Golf Channel HD
The Outdoor Channel 2
World Fishing Network
Mav TV
ESPNews HD and
Speed HD

Verizon’s new Standard-Definition (SD) Channels in California are:

Big Ten Network
Current TV
Reelz
RFD TV
Setanta Sports
Veria TV and
WAPA TV

Kathy Koelle, general manager for Verizon’s West Coast region said “FiOS TV is the only service to consider if you want the ultimate HD experience, with our increased number of HD channels, along with HD video-on-demand programming and our current HD DVR and premium movie promotion, we’re blowing cable away. The addition of new HD and sports channels, along with new multicultural content and more, is part of our commitment to lead the industry in the scope and quality of our programming.”

Verizon is also now offering a year’s free use of either an HD DVR or an HD Home Media DVR to consumers who sign up for FiOS TV by Oct. 31.

Verizon FiOS TV has announced that they are offering Verizon’s Spanish Language Package free for one year for new customers in Rhode Island signing by Nov. 7. Spanish Language Package will carry 25 Spanish language channels offering programming on ESPN Deportes, Gol TV, CNN en espanol, Discovery Familia and Toon Disney en espanol. This package also provides programming such as La Familia Cosmovisio that honors Hispanic culture through music, kids programs and talk shows and Canal Sur, a unique source for news broadcasts and a variety of programs originating in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

“FiOS TV offers the ultimate experience in home entertainment, with a unique and diverse channel lineup,” said Bob Driscoll, Verizon vice president of Northeast region sales. “The Spanish Language Package offers a broad range of content of interest to the Hispanic community, giving our customers a variety of programming choices.”