Over the past three years, satellite TV companies Dish Network and DIRECTV have taken jabs at each other over the total number of HD channels carried. Dish Network initially held the lead, then DIRECTV rolled out dozens of HD channels in 2007. DIRECTV rode the HD wave until the middle of 2009, when Dish Network once again gained the HD satellite TV lead. But while this happened, another player actually passed both DIRECTV and Dish Network in the number of real HD channels. In 2010, the most high definition can actually be found with Verizon Fios HD.
Unfortunately, many in the United States do not currently have Fios TV as a choice. In fact, many may never have Fios HD as it is a regional product and is mainly available in the highly populated, urban and suburban areas served by Verizon. But if you are one of the lucky ones, why should you strongly consider the HD offer from Verizon Fios?
Verizon Fios HD currently offers 117 high definition channels, of which 44 are premium movie channels. Unlike Dish Network and DIRECTV, Verizon Fios doesn’t pad their HD count by adding in all of pay per view HD channels. If you like the premium movie channels like HBO, Cinemax, and Starz, you will find almost all of these in HD with Fios TV. Fios HD channels counts are also the same in every area where you can get the Verizon TV service. Many cable companies like Comcast and Time Warner have differing HD channel counts depending on if network upgrades have been done.
In addition, Verizon Fios also has a robust video on demand setup, with 400 or more HD choices each month. Overall, if you have one of the higher tier Fios TV packages, you will have more than 500 HD choices at any given time if you count the HD channels and HD VOD choices available.
Now you won’t get 117 Fios HD channels unless you subscribe to everything Verizon offers, so here is a breakdown of the high definition channel count for each package.
Fios TV Prime HD has 40 HD channels, including names like ESPN HD, ABC Family HD and Animal Planet.
Fios TV Extreme HD has more than 65 HD channels. Additional hi def channels here are MLB Network HD and the Smithsonian channel HD.
Fios Ultimate HD has more than 90 HD channels including eight different Showtime HD feeds.
You can also get some of the premium sports packages in HD with Fios, including MLB Extra Innings, NHL Center Ice, and the NBA League pass. Not all games will be in high definition though, it often depends on the source broadcasting these games.
So if you have cable or satellite TV and the HD content you want just isn’t there, take a hard look at Verizon Fios HD if it is available to you. You might be surprised at the amount of HD content contained in the Verizon Fios package you select.
