What Cable Is Available With Verizon?

Thanks to recent developments in technology, cable TV is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Fiber-optic television services like AT&T; U-verse and Verizon FiOS TV represent the next generation in television service providers. Verizon no longer offers traditional cable television to its customers -- only fiber optic television is available from Verizon. While this change may not sit well with lifelong cable users who are resistant to change, fiber-optic television actually offers a higher quality picture and more features than traditional cable ever could.

Whereas regular cable utilizes copper cables to transmit video signal, fiber-optic cables are made of glass and utilize light pulses that are more resistant to interference from radio signals and nearby wiring. In addition to cutting down on interference, fiber-optic cables are capable of supporting an almost limitless bandwidth, which leads to quicker downloads and higher picture quality than traditional cable. Fiber-optic TV features faster connections, higher definition and lower material costs than cable, and the availability of fiber-optic television is quickly phasing cable TV out of the competitive market.

Verizon currently offers three different FiOS TV packages. The most basic package, the Prime HD plan, offers more than 196 channels, including at least 50 in HD. This plan includes must-have channels like ESPN, CNN and the Discovery Channel in addition to 47 commercial-free music channels. The FiOS Extreme HD boasts over 285 digital channels and more than 70 in HD. Verizon FiOS TV's top plan, the Ultimate HD plan, offers more than 350 digital channels, including 23 sports channels and almost 100 HD channels. All three FiOS TV packages include access to an On Demand library featuring more than 24,000 titles, including 3,800 in HD.

Verizon's fiber-optic FiOS TV offers customers a multitude of additional benefits that many traditional cable companies cannot match. In addition to remote DVR access and an On Demand library, FiOS TV offers an interactive media guide that allows users to access weather and traffic reports via the TV as well as access to popular websites like YouTube and Facebook. The Media Manager programs makes it possible for users to access music and view videos and slide shows from their computers and Flex View makes it possible to watch more than 2,300 titles on the go via PCs, laptops and mobile devices.

Verizon FiOS TV provides customers with superb picture quality that does not suffer from the interruptions and weather interference many cable and satellite customers experience. In addition to excellent quality of product, Verizon also provides customers with excellent service and support. FiOS TV was rated #1 in value, overall quality and customer satisfaction in the East region, according to the 2010 Residential Television Service Satisfaction Study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates and Verizon continues to offer its customers support via live, 24/7 tech support.