Verizon pushes HD DVRs in new FiOS TV promotion
By Darren Murph 
posted Aug 12th 2008 8:17PM
posted Aug 12th 2008 8:17PM
Verizon's latest push to get you to switch from your current carrier revolves directly around high-def, as it's offering new customers a HD DVR or HD Home Media DVR for a full year should they sign up before October 4th. According to Shawn Strickland, vice president of video solutions for Verizon, FiOS TV is "delivered over the network that's built for HD," and it's doing its best to ensure that everyone out there knows it. So, do any of you other providers care to match this, or will the leapfrog game end here?[Image courtesy of PCMag]
Verizon has come up with a number of great incentive offers starting with an HD tv about a year ago. The problem with these offers is that for many of us there is no way to qualify.
My community was visited by a Verizon subcontractor two months ago when underground conduit was placed throughout the neighborhood. For the past three weeks Verizon trucks have been on the highway next to the community working on the fiber runs. But if I go to the Verizon web site I learn that I cannot subsubscribe since FIOS is NOT AVAILABLE in my community.
In the meantime I watch Verizon make all these great incentive offers that can only be claimed by others.
This is known as frustration.
How about other folks. Do you think Verizon should be able to make these offers to persons who cannot qualify or will not qualify until after the offer expires?
It took them about 4 months after laying fiber in my neighborhood to actually offer the internet service to us. Then after 3 more months when they got their TV franchise straightened out, they offered FIOS TV.
USA in HD is there via a channel marker - but still says coming soon, Well GET HERE ALREADY. That and FX HD. Once they have that - I have no problems except USA's broadcasting is F'ed. I see it on Comcast and Verizon, both SD & HD. Lots of skips, pauses and jumps. Makes my Verizxon DVR crash a lot.
I watch USA HD on Verizon FiOS, also. I have to contact Tivo about getting Guide Data for the channel (it should just be as easy as copying the Channel 50 USA schedule to Channel 884 USA HD -- of course I know Tivo pays someone else for the Schedule so it might not be quite that simple). My original Tivo Series 3 (250 GB hard drive -- 30-32 hours of HD recording -- OLED front) definitely doesn't crash. I see some pixelation on some channels. I've had to attenuate the signal which cured more severe pixelation problems I had previously.
I just want their broadband access. They can keep their Motorola DVR.
I just want fiber to my house, not fiber that is already in my neighbourhood. Who says I should share my cable connection so that I get a slower speed? This is what stinks about the telecom owning the lines. It means 0 competition and you're either stuck with the phone company or cable company. What we need is the providers being forced to compete for the customer and not be limited by market. Just like the wireless industry, no limits to where you market, it is dog eat dog.
Their DVR is crap, so it should be free.
If you want reliable recordings and Guide Data that says something more than "Comedy"; prepare to shell out for a Tivo.
Motorola P.O.S. DVR = no thanks
Verizon is smart to be highlighting its Home Media DVR service since virtually no one else offers multi-room DVR. http://tinyurl.com/59apc9
FYI- Motorola software is behind the in-home DVR networking function, but otherwise the software that runs on the Motorola set-tops is not Moto.
"prepare to shell out for a Tivo."
shell out more upfront for sure.
but for $20 per month for the home media dvr, and at least $5 per month for each set-top box that you stream video to, the verizon solution can add up quick. and it is $10 per month for a hd (non-dvr) set-top box, which verizon may/may not be able to stream to currently (although i believe if verizon doesn't stream hd currently that there are imminent plans to do it).
cable card fees are $3 per month (times two per tivo), which runs $12 per month for two tivos (because i don't believe verizon offer m cards yet). so it is $6-$12 per month for tivos (lower fee if you can get two m cards). versus $25-$30 per month from verizon (only higher fee would allow hd streaming). so it is $13-$24 per month more expensive for verizon.
tivohd's are $300 for the box plus $300 for lifetime service (at least right now i believe that is the Lifetime price which is currently being offered -- a $100 discount per box?). initial outlay of $1200. not factoring in the time value of money, the $13-$24 additional per month translate into a 50-92 month break-even point.
the two tivohd solution involves two hard drives which is essentially double the space of verizon one hard drive solution. i have two series 3's (250 gb -- 30-32 hours HD), which is essentially triple the storage space versus verizon (about 50% more recording per tivo vs. the one verizon dvr).
Leonardo, do you have FiOS? If you did, then you'd know that there are price breaks for various packages. For example, I have two FiOS HD DVRs in my home because one is free for subscribing to the movie package, and another is discounted for subscribing to HBO.
Now there is no harm in loving your TiVo. Certainly the TiVo is a better product, but ask yourself, is it worth the premium? Your math suggests that the break even is anywhere from 4 to 8 years -- and in my case likely on the higher side because of the discounts. And when you consider the fact that the TiVo will break or become obsolete in 4 to 8 years, and Verizon will simply swap out their broken or outdated boxes in that time, your logic becomes flawed.
Like I said, if you love your TiVo, by all means its your right and you have good reason to love it. However, why are you trying to justify it by badmouthing Verizon's service? Are you just jealous that your cable company doesn't offer 100 HD channels yet?
I have been given 2 Verizon branded Motorola boxes that have been used on the FiOS network by someone else.
Can I activate them on my FiOS and eliminate the rental fees?