In a push to acquire subscribers, Verizon Communications is offering new customers who sign up for FiOS TV by Dec. 31 free access to 70 premium channels for 90 days.
The promotion provides free access to FiOS TV’s three premium entertainment packages -- HBO; Cinemax; and the 45-channel Movie Package -- which are normally $30 per month if ordered together.
The three packages provide a total of 70 premium channels (40 in high-definition) including HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz, The Movie Channel, Encore, Sundance Channel and IFC, as well as more than 1,800 video-on-demand titles per month.
"In today's economy, people are staying home more and going out less," Verizon vice president of video solutions Shawn Strickland said, in announcing the offer. "Our latest promotion helps new customers experience free premium entertainment content, and lets them evaluate premium services before deciding to subscribe."
Verizon also will offer new customers access to the Home Media DVR for $15.99 a month for the first 90 days, and $19.99 a month thereafter. The Home Media DVR allows recorded programming to be watched on up to six other TV sets in the home and access photos and music from their PCs and play them on their TV.
The company ran a subscriber-acquisition promo for FiOS TV in the third quarter, from mid-August to Oct. 4, offering one month free of HBO and Cinemax, plus one month free of either an HD DVR or Home Media DVR.
Separately Monday, Verizon added 16 HD channels in Rhode Island, bringing its high-def lineup to 102 channels compared with 47 offered by Cox Communications in the area. The new HD channels on FiOS TV include Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, MGM HD, the Hallmark Movie Channel, QVC, the Travel Channel, Planet Green, Disney Channel, Toon Disney, ABC Family, ESPNews HD, The Tennis Channel and Speed HD.
To get the new HD content, customers must subscribe to the FiOS TV Extreme HD service for $57.99 per month, or in a triple-play bundle for $109.99.
