Verizon's Nonsensical LG TV FiOS Offer 26 Lower-Quality Streams Users Already Get Last year Verizon began offering around 26 live FiOS channels to the Xbox 360 console, but the deal came with a few restrictions and didn't make a whole lot of sense. To access the content users not only needed to pay for an Xbox Live Gold account, but they also needed to subscribe to both broadband and television services from Verizon. Why would a user who already pays for Verizon FiOS TV and a set top really bother with using the 360 to access lower-quality versions of channels they already have access to? The only clear answer is that Verizon's simply testing streaming out of curiosity with no real intent on entering the water quite yet. That, and evolution-terrified broadcasters are refusing to allow adequate licensing for fear of cannibalizing traditional TV revenues. Combined, you get a product that we're told is supposed to replace an extra, already-inexpensive set top, but really doesn't. Along that vein Verizon and LG have announced a similar offer wherein users can get those same 26 channels streamed directly to their LG television: LG Electronics and Verizon today announced an alliance that will offer a new entertainment experience for the LG Smart TV* platform, when LG introduces the Verizon FiOS TV app to current LG Smart TVs and Blu-ray players in 2012. The new app will allow Verizon FiOS TV subscribers to access 26 live HD channels directly through their connected LG Smart TV or Blu-ray Player without any additional hardware required. In the process of trying to build hype LG's CES press release doesn't bother to tell you that to access this content you'll need to subscribe to both FiOS Internet and FiOS TV services. So again, why exactly would a customer who already has a FiOS set top use the integrated content being offered via their television? Verizon should either get into over the top streaming and offer a product that seriously offers a traditional TV alternative, or stop screwing around.
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  JeepMattC'mon the UPremium
join:2001-12-28
Wilmington, DE
kudos:2 | Awesome Karl,
In the 11 years I've been a member of this site, this may be your best story EVER! I couldn't agree more with you.
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"ONE team - ONE city - ONE dream!!" | |
|  |  MikePremium,Mod
join:2000-09-17
Pittsburgh, PA
W.O.W.
FairPoint
World of Warcraft
Site Tools
Verizon Wireless
| Re: Awesome So from what I understand... if you have fios tv and phone, you can watch tv on your xbox?
Or if you have fios tv, phone, and a LG tv... you can watch... television on your tv through the television?
Did Verizon just try to divide by zero?
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"If something about the human body disgusts you, complain to the manufacturer" - Lenny Bruce
What this country needs is a good five dollar plasma weapon. | |
| | | | Reviews:
 ·Verizon FiOS
| quote:
So again, why exactly would a customer who already has a FiOS set top use the integrated content being offered via their television?
To possibly avoid paying for an additional STB rental fee? You should be smarter than that bud. For people with a TV that is not watched AS much, or dont watch a lot of TV at all, isnt this an improvement?
You (all) want Verizon to offer free TV services over an internet connection. Yea, that would be a smart idea by the company ! lol. Eroding 1/3 of their revenue. | |
| | | | | Re: Awesome Avoid the STB rental fee... by paying Microsoft a $5 a month STB rental fee via "Xbox Live Gold." Brilliant! | |
| | | |  jmn1207Premium
join:2000-07-19
Ashburn, VA | Re: Awesome What about those people that already have an Xbox 360 when an Xbox Live Gold subscription?
It is simply a low-cost feature that separates the devices and FiOS from the competition. Hordes of consumers are not expected to be swayed.
Think of it as a complimentary continental breakfast offered by a hotel. | |
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| | | | Sounds like you should sign up for this money saving idea.. Corporate shill.. Muhahhahhahahaha They got you by the short hairs. | |
| | | | | | Re: Awesome ?? Im fine with my STB's thank you. I was stating the obvious. | |
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mogamer
join:2011-04-20
Royal Oak, MI | Clear QAM channel line-up? I don't live in a Verizion area, so I don't know the answer. But what does Verizion offer in their clear QAM tier? Since you're not paying extra for a stb, then it might be better solution than simply connecting coax to your set. Especially since clear QAM only has locals in HD and some of the 26 channels are in (lower quality) HD.
A LG tv connected to the net and an ota antenna would be an ok solution to watching tv in a room without a coax line. Not that unusal of a circumstance. | |
| |  Romney2012Defeat Obama 2012-Chg we can believe inPremium
join:2002-03-03
USA
kudos:4 | Re: Clear QAM channel line-up? said by mogamer:A LG tv connected to the net and an ota antenna would be an ok solution to watching tv in a room without a coax line. Not that unusal of a circumstance.
And from what I read about this smart/tv from LG it can get its Internet access thru a wireless AP, so it could work in a room without coax connectors. | |
| |  BootesPremium
join:2005-01-28
Scarsdale, NY | The only worthwhile things they offer on clear QAM are the local channels.
This service is worth it to me, because I do have a TV in my room where there is no coax connection. I currently use it connected to my computer/an antenna. It would be nice to get rid of the antenna and have access to a few cable channels. | |
|
 gigahurtzPremium
join:2001-10-20
Palm Coast, FL | What a joke! I read about this yesterday and I'm baffled that Verizon would even consider offering something like this. This is absolutely pathetic. When I read about this the first time, I thought it may be something similar to what DirecTV is doing with RVU capable TVs. Instead, it's not even close and not even worth it at all.  | |
| | | content when/if more content is added, I'll be happy I have it and will use it. This might be wishful thinking, but it would be awesome if this is an MPEG-4 IP test/trial... | |
| | | Why not? If people are using it via Xbox, why wouldn't they use it on their TV as well? Plus you can get it for free (unlike Xbox where you have to subscribe to Xbox Live).
Sounds like a start for people that don't want/need an STB to still subscribe. | |
| | | This is not a bad deal.... For those of us who do not want an STB in a certain room and already subscribe to FIOS TV and Internet.
In my case, it is the Kitchen, where we have a TV mounted to the wall, and no real location for an STB, or the desire to put one in there. I do have COAX and ethernet to the location though.
Side note, the LG smart tv.. which is what we have in the kitchen, is pretty slick, what bugs the crap out of me, is that while I am pulling whatever is not encrypted on the coax line into the TV, there is no guide app or data and no real channel identifiers, and they have some odd numbering schemes so it is impossible for my wife to figure out what channels are what..... does not seem so smart to me atm... | |
| | | TV and Net charge? I know you're all complaining about having to order both TV and Internet, but why would Verizon offer TV service without charging you for it? | |
| | | The idea is to eventually get rid of the set-top You have to start somewhere and this is just the beginning.
Licensing with all the networks has to be ironed out, but the idea is to eventually have most of if not all of the entire FiOS lineup available.
There are several advantages and goals Verizon is trying to achieve:
1. Reduced costs - A)Set top boxes and the cost to install them is greatly reduced when you shift the burden onto the customer to buy and install their own equipment. B) Maintenance and support costs are lower as Verizon does not troubleshoot your equipment for you. C)You are able to locate your TV anywhere you want to without the need for running wires. D)You as the customer save money by not having to pay a set-top box rental fee for each TV set.
There may be some TVs in your home where you want the full-fledged advantages of a FiOS set-top box, and there may be others where you don't need all of the bells and whistles. Going forward, having smart tvs, you can place a TV in the kitchen or playroom and have access to content without the need for wires, set-top boxes taking up space, or associated set-top box rental fees.
See the following videos for more information:
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=QogfVxts···=related
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dCi6ul1···e=relmfu
2. Migrate to an all IP infrastructure. This eventually will allow FiOS TV to be available on different platforms and over time even on different networks. IP also gives more flexibility in the content offered. It is a lot easier to make a lot of content available for 3-D TVs via an IP-based app than it is to use up space for several channels on a QAM based system. For every 3-D channel offered, you lose the ability to offer 2 HD channels on a QAM based system. Trying to reengineer QAM to accomodate the future content demands is a tremendous if not futile hurdle. If things like 3-D, 1080p broadcasting, and in the future 4K/8K/Ultra High Definition/Super Hi-Vision, or whatever else you want to call it, ever become popular, the current QAM architecture will not have the capability to provide a large catalogue of content.
3. Eventually this could be expanded to non-FiOS areas, or even a solution for areas that have FiOS Internet available, but can't offer TV due to municipality franchise agreement obstacles.
4. If you start with a supposedly "full-fledged" service or a complete over the top solution as mentioned in the article, customers will be extremely upset and the FiOS brand tarnished if the service has kinks and bugs in it. Therefore, you start small, customers use the app with expectations already set that this is not the full-fledged FiOS experience, and then you gradually add content.
5. Make Money. For customers without a set-top box on every TV, or who may use just digital adapters, potential revenue is lost from Video on Demand/FlexView services. Everytime you go out and rent a DVD or BluRay that is potential revenue that could have gone into Verizon's pocket instead had you rented the movie from them. By bringing the library of movies to your TV or BluRay player, the opportunity to increase revenue from movie rentals is exponentially increased. Yes, there will always be the cost-conscious consumer who will know that they could go to the supermarket kiosk and get DVDs for $1, or subscribe to other inexpensive solutions, or even pirate it for free, but there will always be the convience-conscious customer and the impulse-buying customer who will just order that movie right from the TV. | |
| | | | Re: The idea is to eventually get rid of the set-top Just to add to point #5. In order to bill you for that movie rental, yes you need to subscribe to FiOS TV. The convenience factor is removed if you require customers to input a credit card # every time they wanted to rent a movie.
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| | | Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Re: The idea is to eventually get rid of the set-top RE: video's
Im assuming that with this installation, customers get a free paintjob for their house which includes a material that blocks wi-fi from leaving the premises? Id also expect new windows?
Otherwise, Id like to know how this is a good idea in heavily populated areas, where you'd not only be able to share video accounts with neighbors in the same building, but down the street. In this economy?
Good job Verizon, innovating themselves right out of business. | |
| | | | | | Re: The idea is to eventually get rid of the set-top Maybe that's why the video implies it will be limited to 4 TVs?
Also, I don't think it would put Verizon out of business before it puts the cable companies out of business, since the cable companies still have the lion's share of subscribers. | |
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|  PoloDudePremium,VIP
join:2006-03-29
Northport, NY
kudos:2 | Well stated anon. Karl you blew it on this one. VZ is starting a way to access content without getting. A STB or CC. What is the downside to this except for the fact that it is not full featured. Yet.
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“My horse fights with me and fasts with me because if he is to carry me into battle, he must know my heart and I must know his or we shall never become brothers.
-Plenty Coups, Chief of the Crow” | |
| | Reviews:
 ·Hargray Cable
| #1-5 horse shit. The cable industry is all about control and they want you to rent as many $5-$15 box as you possibly can. If there is any possible way for your TV to get free stuff off the internet (IPTV) they will want it crippled. If they can some how charge you extra to use the Xbox or whatever device then they will hype it up as the next cool thing to have.
This whole thing is crap and I'm suspicious of any one who defends it especially in a long post. | |
| | | | | Re: The idea is to eventually get rid of the set-top Being you are not in a FiOS area nor have experienced FiOS, you couldn't possibly understand what the post is about.
Set-top boxes hinder FiOS capabilities in many ways. For example, every time new tech comes out in order to take advantage of it, you need to swap set-top boxes. Verizon claims it takes 3-4 years to break even on the cost off set-tops. Even if they break even in 2 years, let's face it, 2 years is a long time with the pace technology moves. Sure Verizon and the cable companies would love to charge you $5-$15 every month for life and have you keep that $250 cable box forever. After a while the profit margins would get to be huge. But that is only if you never expect changes to the service. Just like computers and cellphones eventually become obsolete, so do set-top boxes. Verizon is thinking over the long term, and in the long run, they stand to gain more than they lose by getting rid of the set top box. One of the barriers to people signing up for FiOS in the first place is that they need to rent a set-top for each TV in the home. This is one of the reasons Verizon gets stuck at a 25%-30% adoption rate for its services. Take a look even at Verizon's promotions for FREE equipment FOR LIFE. So in many of these cases Verizon is not making money off the set-top boxes because they need to acquire subscribers. Its a lot easier to design and make software changes when you don't have to deal with hardware limits in mind, a tough reality Verizon is facing right now with not being able to transition to mpeg-4 so they can add more HD channels due to the sheer number of 1st generation boxes still in use that are not mpeg-4 capable. I'm sure Verizon calculated the costs of purchasing set-top boxes vs potential revenue and compared that with the cost savings of getting rid of the set-top, potentially acquiring more subscribers, and being positioned to implement future technology without having to buy new set-tops and then send all those old set tops to the landfill. I'm sure they factored in also the "cord-cutting trend" as well. Its not just the high price of programming packages, but set-tops that drive up the consumer cost. If I can save $5-$15 on my cable bill each month, I just might keep my TV service versus disconnecting service altogether. For Verizon, some revenue is better than no revenue at all. | |
| | | | Reviews:
·Hargray Cable
| Re: The idea is to eventually get rid of the set-top said by waiting4fios:Set-top boxes hinder FiOS capabilities in many ways. For example, every time new tech comes out in order to take advantage of it, you need to swap set-top boxes. But that is only if you never expect changes to the service. Just like computers and cellphones eventually become obsolete, so do set-top boxes. Verizon is thinking over the long term, and in the long run, they stand to gain more than they lose by getting rid of the set top box. One of the barriers to people signing up for FiOS in the first place is that they need to rent a set-top for each TV in the home. This is one of the reasons Verizon gets stuck at a 25%-30% adoption rate for its services. First off set top boxes have been around since the 70's..Right now every service cable,sat,FIOS requires set top box so that isn't what is stopping people from signing up. Set top boxes don't cost that much and don't need to be changed out very often. Let's go back to the problem that is Verizon is not going to stream all the channels through your Xbox, WII, Roku, Boxee. Period. Matter of control and money. Back to the IPTV which I have and the only thing it does is show you tube clips (useless), various other clips(useless) and connects to pay programing on the internet. I use it for Netflix works great, easier than hooking up a computer but when I hook up a computer I get anything I can get my hands on for free on the internet. IPTV, crap and pay services. I can go watch NBC, CBS, ABC, etc on my computer yet for some reason that's not possible on an IPTV. That's just a simple thing and it can't be done on my IPTV, it's for free programing on the internet that can't be streamed to an IPTV, what is the point of all this?? There is no point just a group of people sitting around trying to figure out how to squeeze every penny out of people using every sort of device they can think of but they assume you will only use that one device hence they need to figure out how to bill you. The biggest worry is some how you at home figure out how to get something out of them for free. Worked well for the music industry and we'll see how this all works out in TV land. | |
| | | | | Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
1 edit | Re: The idea is to eventually get rid of the set-top quote:
This is one of the reasons Verizon gets stuck at a 25%-30% adoption rate for its services.
The reason that Verizon is stuck at a 25-30% adoption rate is that in those areas there are 4 choices of TV service, some have 5. FiOS, Cable, Dishnetwork, DirecTV. In addition, there are also some areas that have companies RCN. In a very limited area, FiOS is competing with Uverse as well.
FiOS has the best overall product, and they should be doing a little better, but some people make it sound like they should have a 50% market share, dont think its possible. | |
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| Reviews:
·Optimum Online
·Verizon FiOS
| FIOS and FTTP are a dated product.. the systems used today (QAM) were first developed back in 2001-2003. As we see the COAX cable industry pondering OFDM, WDM?, modulations will squeeze more bandwidth out of the systems once they evolve away from QAM which shall commence by 2014 with actual use by 2016? (the industry is -currently- very anti putting mega bandwidth--100+megabits symmetrical in the hands of residential consumers for obvious reasons). The set-top box will end up being an ALL-IN-ONE (emphasis on ONE BOX eliminating the need for rental of multiple BOXES) interface much like some cablemodems incorporate multiple interfaces such as Dial-tone ports, ethernet ports, usb, etc. As smart devices develop, you will end up having a combo RF/infrared remote much the was satellite tv remotes are RF/infrared based so they can communicate with the all-in-one set-top and control multiple HDTV signals (yep, over coax as we're not quite ready in the USA to make the leap to total fiber... sad but true). What's even funnier is when they figure out this COAX puzzle-- HDMI cables will be obsolete as they are a short distance connection soution and COAX works cheaper at a distance. Also please understand they need to make a universal standard for addressing individual HDTVs over coax for this to happen... much the way RF modulators send signals on different channels in this new fantasy all-in-one.
The reason why an all-in-one set top will be around for quite a while is the fact that "SMART" hdtvs won't be popular and in 75% of consumer's homes until 2016 at the earliest. There's also quite a difference between pondering the future and actually making/writing history (doing something). Many technology ideas have become vaporware before such as the infamous EXTREME bandwidth DSL claims by various companies which never panned out in the wild copper twisted pair networks that still exist. | |
|
 kleinml
join:2008-04-18
Levittown, PA | This is a Test "The only clear answer is that Verizon's simply testing streaming out of curiosity with no real intent on entering the water quite yet. "
This is a Test.
This is only a Test.
The Fios Provider in your Area is Conducting this test without the coperation of local installers or Content Providers.
If this had been an actual deployment of something of value, the Announcemnt you just Heard would have been followed by Fireworks, Fanfare and assorted Hupla.
This Concludes this test of Nothing of particular value. | |
| Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Nonsensical! It's the new Verizon Musical! 
Seriously, I had to do one step to install on my xbox and 7 steps to remove! (I wanted to see what it does, and if I could get anything even though I cut the TV cord...which I could not).
This Verizon App blows. Gotta be some marketing gimmick to get data/metrics and start pushing. No sense at all!
(Hey, use your xbox to get TV rather than us providing you with STB. So you can't record your shows, but atleast you can get to watch more TV in another part of the house, without leasing another STB from us...huh?) maybe Motorola going to jack up STB pricing and Verizon would rather us what you already got... and their billing will STILL hit you for a STB fee! Yeah! That was it!)
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Splat | |
| | | | Re: Nonsensical! Trying to understand your post...
You don't have FiOS TV...
but wanted to install the app to see if you could get it to work... even though it specifically says you must subscribe to both FiOS Internet and FiOS TV...
and so you are upset that it didn't work?
If I am understanding correctly, that sounds more nonsensical than the article's claim that the Verizon app is nonsensical. | |
| | | Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Re: Nonsensical! Not at all. If I may clarify:
I had HDTV from FiOS. I was re-signing up to re-activate HDTV plan, I wanted to get the basic package again, and had installed the program ahead of the call, when I was told (on the phone) I had to get the "extreme" package to get certain channels.** Then some of these channels were not viewable with the Xbox app per the rep.
Yeah, I re-read my post and thought I put this in there. Sorry.
** I forgot FiOS dumped channels, moved channels, and condensed packages. Still Ouch $$$.
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Splat | |
|
 jjoshuaPremium
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ
kudos:1 | Not a STB replacement When the software has an option to view content from the DVR, then it will be useful.
Also, why is this limited to 26 channels? Again, not a STB replacement. | |
| | | | Re: Not a STB replacement it is limited to 26 channels because Verizon does not want to piss off the content companies when its time to renegotiate licensing deals for the FiOS TV service.
If you start offering the content without their permission, regardless of whether it would be legal to do so or not, the content companies can make your life miserable when it comes time to negotiate deals. For example look at the legal issues that came up with Viacom/Time Warner Cable/Cablevision over the Ipad app. Even if you take the "screw you" route that Cablevision did, believe me the content companies will remember that when it comes time to renegotiate those licensing deals and as we've seen all to often, they are not afraid to yank their channels if they don't get their way.
Last thing Verizon needs is to be battling over licensing and distribution rights with this app. Thus there are only 26 channels because those are the only networks that gave Verizon the rights to redistribute via this means. | |
| | | jjoshuaPremium
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ
kudos:1 | Re: Not a STB replacement If I'm paying for TV, then what's the problem? | |
| | | | | | Re: Not a STB replacement ask the content companies, like Viacom, what the problem is. They sued Time Warner and Cablevision over the Optimum App.
I don't see the problem, but apparently the content companies do. | |
|
 aaronwtPremium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
·Verizon FiOS
| They are supposed to have VOD as well Having just the linear channels like on the 360 makes no sense, but having access to VOD is certainly a great feature. I hope they eventually add VOD to the 360 as well. I use TiVos with my FiOS TV so I don't have access to VOD. And I'm not about to pay $10 a month just for access to their VOD content. But since I already have a 360 and a gold account, access to VOD would be nice.
If I were in the market for a new TV, I would seriously look at the LG strictly because of the ability to access the FiOS VOD. | |
| | | Let me make sense of it for you. For those who agree with the article that it doesn't make sense to have to subscribe to both FiOS Internet and TV, let me make sense of it for you.
It all comes down to MONEY.
If you weren't required to subscribe to both services it would cannibilize revenue and enable theft of services.
Scenario A)We all accept that you need a very fast broadband internet connection for this to work, so choices are pretty much cable company, FiOS, (maybe 4G). If I have cable internet, but wanted to subscribe to this service, how does Verizon authenticate you that you are using it from your address where you have signed up for FiOSTV? Think of this: what would prevent some unethical people from signing up for 1 account and then sharing the username and password to use the service at multiple addresses. If I have just cable internet, Verizon can't readily identify that I am using the service from my home address without implementing some costly technology to accurately detect that. Thus, I could pay for a subscription to FiOSTV and then give it to my buddies who just need to have a broadband connection, and now we can have TV service pretty much anywhere without paying for extra subscriptions at each residence. Verizon would be losing potential subscribers to both FiOS internet and FiOSTV this way. Thus the FiOS Internet requirement takes care of readily identifying customers, and the location where the service is being used.
Scenario B) Right now, if I want FiOS TV service, I have to pay for a set-top for every TV to unencrypt all the channels I subscribe to. Of course all of the good channels are encrypted. Let's suppose now I subscribe to just FiOS Internet. Do you honestly think Verizon is going to give you FREE FiOSTV service with this app? They still have to pay the content companies, therefore, you still need to pay for FiOS TV service, therefore you need both a FiOS Internet and FiOS TV subscription. The FiOS internet serves as a security measure to authenticate the user and make sure you are using it at home, and the FiOS TV is the cost for the right to view programming content.
I honestly don't see how anyone expects to have one without the other. Eventually this could be expanded, but they would have to figure out how to prevent it from being taken advantage of and cannibilizing their own internet and tv subscriptions. Otherwise believe me I would tell my relatives in non-FiOS to cancel their cable tv service, keep just the internet service, and give them my login information to use the app on their smart TVs.
If you don't believe that people would share their login info to give free tv access to their friends, then take a look at Netflix for example. Why did they have to implement a streaming limit? Because it was easy to maybe buy 1 subscription and share it with friends. Now movie rentals are limited to 1 stream at a time unless you pay extra for additional streaming capabilities. | |
|
3 edits | Strange idea... I just tried the FiOS app on Xbox360 and the PQ sucks compared to the STB. I'm really disappointed about that. The channel offerings aren't that great either. There are too many SD streams when there are HD channels... The streams should be HD too.
It has been said that the service is a work in progress, but I do not want to subscribe to Live Gold long enough to see it become good. Perhaps FiOS should have just rolled the app out without marketing it, then the expectation would be lower... I mean this is FiOS! The PQ should at least be as good as their STB...
Man, I can only imagine how this would be on an LG TV!
This just isn't good enough for prime time yet! | |
| | | | Re: Strange idea... And thank you for proving my point #4 in my post above. | |
| | | | | Re: Strange idea... Unfortunately, the bar was already set too high. What Verizon is offering at this beta stage is still a little too low quality for my tastes. I expect the PQ to be top notch from the beginning, regardless of other features. This is what separates FiOS TV from the pack. It should carry forward to the LG TV (which I haven't seen) and the 360. It's not like bandwidth is an issue! | |
|
UnnDunnPremium
join:2005-12-21
Brooklyn, NY Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Good for Flex View purchasers This is actually a good thing, because you can buy movies on Flex View and they are yours to keep forever, even if you leave Verizon (you still keep your VZ username and password.) This app will allow you to maintain access to any Flex View titles you have purchased. I call that a clear win. | |
|  jtudorXm 60's On 6 FreakPremium,MVM
join:2002-12-07
Morganton, NC |  Surprised this is not being discussed here
So why do something like that based on those facts? Since Verizon is not expanding FIOS any further, why partner with LG for a TV app not usable by over 75% of the country?
STUPID
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Best of luck
"Do, or Do not, there is no try!" Yoda
| |
| Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
 ·voip.ms
·PHONE POWER
·Time Warner Cable
| They need to measure bandwidth stupid OK,
If you look at the app (I did) and the LG is no different it is really there to gauge on-demand offerings, but they need to know what the bandwidth requirements and demands will be before hand, hence the beta test like their 4G LTE .
Keep in mind that they can only do this live because they can multicast it--if they did VOD off the bat, that would probably kill their network because we are talking about IP not the digital channel tiers which run on other frequencies (they are essentially duplicating them).
There is no way that TV suppliers will keep their apps up to date because they are hardware companies (my Samsung TV 1 yr old sucks, so I dont bother). Eventually Microsoft, Sony (will try), Goog TV and Apple TV will run on TVs and you will still pay $5, but it will be for software updates. Do you think VZ likes to have a CC in every device, its a PITA to manage. Of course your TV will become obsolete in 2 years, so look for TV service contracts I wont even get started w/ the HDMI headaches I have just to get audio on my headphones.
The streams are SD for now because WiFi cannot reliably do HD regardless what they tell you--even current 5ghz sucks, so they have to clamp it to the lowest common denominator lest people say the service sucks when in reality WiFi sucks and I have 20 of my neighbors bleeding into my house. Welcome to powerline
I got rid of all my STB and run W7MC in a VM and use a Silicondust 3CC (3 tuners) and bought used xboxes as STB. Works like a charm. For the one in the kitchen I only had coax, so a $40 moca connector happily talks to my actiontec and I am on my way. VZW doesnt put copy flags on their content, so I can watch any show on my PC that was "taped" on W7MC, which is exactly what I want using a homegroup. I'm not looking to pirate content. Adding tablet would be great, but you will need a transcode as to not bump into that wireless issue.
In any case this is light years ahead of the pixelated crappy TWC service I had before Fios came to town, and I am glad they did. In fact now that VZ is the new sheriff TWC rates went from $170/month (which my brother sadly pays in Utica) to $100 in line w/ FIOS. So dont say actual competition isnt good.
If you look at the players in the NE, Verizon is the only one who isnt a content company, so look for them to go fishing. Imagine them buying Coinstar or Netflix. Game on. So they can afford to be a little creative, and if they go OTT watch out. | |
| | | | Re: They need to measure bandwidth stupid The photos I saw of the app made it basically look like the Video On Demand section from the set-top box....now if LG has a cablecard slot, sounds like its a replacement for the set-top. | |
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