Verizon introduced FiOS TV in the Town of Oyster Bay on Long Island, offering a true choice for subscription television and on-demand programming via the company's all-digital, fiber-optic network. Verizon is the first company to offer such a communications network, connecting homes and businesses directly to fiber optics on a widespread scale.
Verizon began taking orders for its fiber-optic TV services today in parts of the Town of Oyster Bay, including sections of Massapequa, Seaford, Syosset and Woodbury. The Town Board voted unanimously on May 9 to grant the company a franchise to provide television services for the town's unincorporated villages. Verizon will work with each of the incorporated villages to expand FiOS TV's availability to more households. Verizon already offers FiOS TV in the Town of Oyster Bay's incorporated village of Massapequa Park, where Verizon obtained a local video franchise in September 2005.
"Today, the Town of Oyster Bay's residents are given an outstanding, superior choice for their video entertainment," said Monica Azare, Verizon senior vice president for New York and Connecticut. "No longer will consumers be at the mercy of a single cable-TV company. They'll have Verizon FiOS TV."
The Town of Oyster Bay's residents, along with all other Verizon FiOS TV-eligible customers in New York, have the option to trim their monthly bill by bundling FiOS TV service, FiOS Internet service and the Verizon Freedom Values unlimited calling plan - all for under $95 a month.
Service highlights include:
- A broad collection of all-digital programming and compelling consumer choice.
- An initial service package of more than 180 digital video and music channels for $34.95, when combined with high-speed Internet service or a calling plan. With an annual savings agreement, customers can waive the monthly standard definition set-top box fee of $3.95.
- More than 20 high-definition (HD) channels, with extraordinary clarity and theater-quality sound.
- Over 2,500 on-demand titles available to customers now, increasing to over 3,500 titles in the next several months.
- Channels grouped by programming genres such as entertainment, sports, news, shopping, movies and family entertainment, making it easy for audiences to find their favorite programming.
- An easy-to-use interactive programming guide that integrates HD programming, on-demand content and the digital video recorder along with broadcast television into a seamless user experience.
- A dual-tuner, HD-capable Digital Video Recorder (DVR) that gives customers the freedom to pause and rewind live TV, record two shows simultaneously, and fast forward to their favorite part of the program - all without a VCR, tapes or DVDs.
Information on packages and prices is available now at www.verizon.com/fiostv. Customers also can call 1-800-880-2941 to see if they are able to order FiOS TV.
Residents in the Town of Oyster Bay join the Long Island Town of Hempstead communities of Baldwin, Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick, North Merrick, Roosevelt, Seaford and Wantagh, as well as the Town of Oyster Bay's incorporated village of Massapequa Park as FiOS TV markets in New York. In addition, Verizon offers FiOS TV service in the Rockland County communities of Nyack, South Nyack and Upper Nyack. Verizon will begin offering FiOS TV to other New York communities later this summer where it has franchise agreements, including the Long Island villages of Cedarhurst and Laurel Hollow.
"We look forward to negotiations with many other towns and villages on Long Island and elsewhere in the state," said Azare. "We want to deliver FiOS TV and high-speed Internet services to consumers as quickly as possible."
In addition to New York, FiOS TV is also available to customers in parts of six other states: California, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Texas and Virginia.