Verizon FiOS TV Subscribers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to Receive MSG Channels in HD

NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
Like a home team win in overtime, Verizon, at last, expects to be able to offer its FiOS TV subscribers the channels of the MSG Network in high-definition in the coming weeks.

In September, the Federal Communications Commission ruled that MSG, which until recently had been owned by Cablevision, was out of bounds for refusing to sell Verizon the HD formats of MSG Network’s two regional sports channels in the greater New York region. Last week, that decision was upheld by the commission, and a stay of the decision was denied by a federal appeals court.

The HD feeds of both MSG and MSG+ are ultimately expected to be made available to FiOS TV subscribers in New York City and state, northern and central New Jersey, and Connecticut. The two channels will be included in all levels of FiOS TV service packages, except FiOS TV Local.

The company expects the channels to be available in mid-December. The exact channel locations will be determined closer to launch date. FiOS TV already carries MSG and MSG+ in standard definition (SD) format.

“Sports fans want their sports in HD,” said Mike Ritter, Verizon chief marketing officer for consumer and business services. “And after years of seeking access to this programming, we expect to bring FiOS TV subscribers the basketball, hockey, soccer, lacrosse and other games and sports programming they have been asking for. Soon FiOS TV subscribers can watch all their favorite New York area sports teams in HD, with the picture quality that you can only get from the FiOS 100 percent fiber-to-the-home network.”

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with more than 107 million total connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500. A Dow 30 company with $106.6 billion in 2010 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon

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Verizon FiOS TV Subscribers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to Receive MSG Channels in HD