Verizon introduces FiOS Quantum TV service

Verizon Redefines Customers’ TV Viewing Experience; New FiOS Quantum TV Service Provides More DVR Choices, Storage and Control

NEW YORK – No more heated debates about whose TV programs should get recorded and who should be forced to wait for the dreaded rerun. A quick run to the kitchen for more popcorn no longer means you’ll miss the buzzer beater or dramatic climax. Starting today, TV will be delivered on your terms.

Verizon intends to redefine customers’ TV viewing experience with the introduction of FiOS Quantum TV, which provides more choices and control, including the ability to record up to 12 shows at once; pause and rewind live TV on any TV in the home; and store up to 200 hours of HD programs. This advanced TV-entertainment experience is enabled by enhanced DVR control and storage and builds upon the Verizon’s successful Quantum Internet service.

The new service will roll out in phases over the next few months in markets where FiOS TV is offered, and it can be ordered immediately by customers in North Texas and Harrisburg, Pa., where beta trials were conducted.

FiOS Quantum TV features two advanced tiers of DVR service, known as Premium and Enhanced. The Premium Service allows customers to record up to 12 shows at the same time and store up to 200 hours of HD programing, with two terabytes of storage space. This is a major increase over the current DVR service, which allows customers to simultaneously record two shows and store up to 50 hours of HD programming. With the Enhanced Service, customers can record up to six shows simultaneously, and store up to 100 hours of HD programming with one terabyte of storage space.

Both tiers of service will allow customers to control live TV in any room and start watching a show in one room, pause, move to another room and continue watching exactly where they left off, which ensures they never miss a second of the program they are watching.

Growth Pains of Traditional DVR Gave Birth to FiOS Quantum TV Service

“By listening to our customers, we’re doing for TV what we did for the Internet with the launch of FiOS Quantum service,” said Bob Mudge, president of the consumer and mass business unit of Verizon. “We’re delivering the best, most satisfying TV experience to customers with features and functionality they want such as more choice, storage and control.

“Expanded storage space means FiOS Quantum TV customers can store full seasons of shows they want to watch and binge on,” said Mudge. “More storage, more recording capabilities and more in-home viewing control enhance the TV viewing experience.”

Currently, more than one-third of all TV viewed is recorded content, and adoption of DVR capabilities has grown roughly 60 percent over the past five years. Simultaneous-recording conflicts have also grown as a major source of frustration among viewers of all ages.

According to the latest Verizon FiOS Innovation Index survey 78 percent of respondents nationwide want more DVR storage capacity to record and save more TV programs and movies. Survey responses also revealed that 63 percent want more tuners so everyone can watch and record live TV when they want; 63 percent want to watch DVR-recorded programs on every TV in the house; and 57 percent want to pause, rewind and fast forward live TV programs on every TV in the house.

“FiOS Quantum TV delivers more control, storage and entertainment in a powerful way for people, and will transform the TV viewing experience,” Mudge added.

Smaller, Sleeker Equipment Delivers More Functionality

FiOS Quantum TV customers will use a next-generation set-top box known as a Video Media Server, which is smaller than the existing set-top box and acts as the brains of the FiOS Quantum TV setup.

Each Media Server, connected to one TV, serves as the hub for up to five TVs in a home. Each of four additional TVs can be connected to a Media Client, a compact companion device that communicates with the Media Server. The Premium Service, using two Video Media Servers, can connect up to 10 TVs and is ideal for the viewing needs of a household with six or more TVs.

While many existing customers’ FiOS broadband home routers are compatible with FiOS Quantum TV, certain routers must be replaced. If needed, the required FiOS broadband home router will be supplied at no additional charge to existing FiOS TV customers who are using a Verizon-provided router and who upgrade to FiOS Quantum TV service.

FiOS Quantum TV Pricing

As with current FiOS TV set-top box equipment, the FiOS Quantum TV equipment will be rented and not purchased by customers.

A new FiOS Quantum TV customer with five TVs who orders the Enhanced Service would pay $10 more per month than the charge for standard FiOS TV using a traditional multi-room DVR; a new customer with five TVs who orders the Premium Service would pay $20 more per month.

As the service rolls out to more markets, customers will be able to order by using the existing FiOS TV interactive media guide on their TV.

Current FiOS TV customers who want to upgrade to FiOS Quantum TV and self-install the new equipment will incur a one-time, $24.99 upgrade fee, plus tax. While the upgrading is quick and easy, existing and new FiOS TV customers can elect to have a Verizon technician install the service.