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Verizon Fios TV

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7.2

Overall Score

Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: December 23rd, 2024

Verizon has been a major player in the tech space (particularly mobile phone services) for the better part of the last decade and is headquartered in New York City. Recently, it has expanded into other technology areas with FiOS (fiber-optic) service and the purchasing of AOL as a means for generating content and other forms of media.

Verizon FiOS is a relatively new service that began in 2005 and has greatly expanded with increases in internet speeds. In areas where FiOS is available, customers can enjoy download speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 940 Mbps.

In summary, FiOS from Verizon specializes in high quality/fast internet as well as a basic TV subscription. The availability of the service is somewhat limited compared to other television providers. However, if Verizon FiOS is an available option in your area, it is definitely worth looking into because of its fast speeds and competitive pricing.

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The Good

  • TV Packages
  • Fiber Optic
  • Competitive Pricing and User-Friendly Features
  • Valuable Mobile App
  • Multi-Room DVR Service

TV Packages

Verizon FiOS offers two types of TV packages: a customTV package and a traditional TV package. Custom FiOS plans offer a variety of channel options, which means that customers only pay for the channels they want to watch. Verizon FiOS offers the following traditional FiOS plans:

Preferred HD

  • $74.99 per month for 1 year + taxes, equipment charges, and other fees
  • 280+ channels (105+ HD)
  • Includes channels such as Comedy Central, Fox News, MTV, TNT, ESPN, and SyFy

Extreme HD

  • $79.99 per month for 1 year + taxes, equipment charges, and other fees
  • 350+ channels (130+ HD)
  • Includes channels such as NFL Network, BBC America, FX, ESPN, OWN, DIY

Ultimate HD

  • $89.99 per month for 1 year + taxes, equipment charges, and other fees
  • 425+ channels (160+ HD)
  • Includes channels such as NFL Network, FLIX, Showtime, ESPN, The Movie Channel, Epix

Prices for a greater range of bundled options that include FiOS Gigabit Connection and a home phone can be found on the company website.

Fiber Optic

What sets Verizon FiOS apart from traditional cable and satellite companies is the use of fiber optics. Fiber optic is considered a cutting edge technology that will improve the communication/entertainment industry. Fiber optic technology allows customers to be constantly connected to their TV (as well as internet and phone if applicable).

Verizon FiOS has increased both the speed and capacity that traditional cable has to offer. For those who are getting started, FiOS installation usually requires 4–6 hours. Technicians typically test the existing coaxial cable for quality and signal strength to determine if it is possible to use existing wiring.

Competitive Pricing and User-Friendly Features

Prices and features are competitive, and in some cases better than what other television providers are offering. At the bottom of this expert review, there are additional details and services regarding the packaging. Also be sure to check out the ever changing promotions to switch to Verizon FiOS TV.

Verizon FiOS TV has a few better features compared to other top cable or satellite TV providers. First, you are able to record 12 shows at once. This is a significantly larger increase when compared to four or five DVR recordings by DISH and DirecTV. Depending on the package, you are able to access over 500 channels. This maximum amount of channels is better than other top packages from other providers. However, basic packages from Verizon FiOS TV will fall short of this maximum amount significantly.

Other features for an FiOS TV One customer include 4K Ultra High Definition compatibility, a voice remote, and multi-room DVR access.

Multi-Room DVR Service

Any FiOS Customer can watch their DVR recordings from the FiOS TV app and manage settings and recordings from a smartphone or any connected computer. Verizon offers two FiOS DVR options:

  • FiOS Multi-Room DVR Enhanced Service — users can record up to six shows at once and watch on up to five TVs
  • FiOS Multi-Room DVR Premium Service — users can record up to 12 shows at once and watch on up to 10 TVs

Valuable Mobile App

Mobile viewing is a huge benefit of the Verizon FiOS service. You can watch live TV or stream On Demand movies from your tablet, laptop, smartphone, or streaming product. You no longer have to be sitting in front of the TV to enjoy your cable service and can watch all of your favorite shows and movies whenever you want, where you want.

Overall, users have been pleased with the functionality of this mobile app lately. Currently, the app enjoys a 3.8 out of 5 star rating from 26,343 reviews on Google Play. Verizon FiOS reviews suggest minor functionality issues did exist but have been corrected, such as navigation and sub-accounts inability to access live streaming TV.

Verizon Wireless customers can stream data-free through the FiOS TV app, meaning that data used on the app does not count towards a customer's data limit. Users can begin streaming from the app even before Verizon FiOS has been installed in the home.

 

 

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The Bad

  • Only Available in Eight States
  • 2-Year Commitment for Triple Play Bundle

Only Available in Eight States

Availability is a huge issue with the Verizon FiOS service. As of right now, Verizon FiOS only offers services in eight states. It is currently working to get into all 28 states where Verizon provides landline phone services. While Verizon FiOS has competitive prices and features comparable to other cable providers, it simply does not service enough people nationwide due to the fiber optic limitations. Verizon FiOS TV is currently available in the following areas:

  • Delaware
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Providence, Rhode Island
  • Virginia
  • Washington D.C.

Two-Year Commitment for Triple Play Bundle

While not uncommon among TV providers, it is unfortunate to have a two-year commitment requirement as part of your contract with Verizon FiOS TV bundles. If customers wish to cancel their contract before the time period is up, they will be assessed a fee(s) based on how long they have been a customer and their payment history. Also, the most basic TV package available does not come complete with many of the channels found in the packages of top competitors.

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The Bottom Line

Verizon FiOS is a great option for cable TV, internet, and phone if it is available in your area. Service is limited based on where you live, so there is a chance Verizon FiOS TV is not offered in your area. Fiber optics help speed up service as well as increase capacity and quality to create a great alternative option to satellite and cable television providers.

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Star Rating

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3.4

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90 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

34%

4 grade

18%

3 grade

20%

2 grade

9%

1 grade

19%

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Amy Voyten Liverpool, NY

Okay once, I understand. Twice has me beyond irritated. 2 years ago I negotiated a new bundle. Upon receiving the first statement there was a price discrepancy from what I was told. Watch for verbiage such a fees can change or increase because I wasn’t told the set top box had a price increase. Verizon Fios made good of the price I was told and life went on. 2 years later I had to renegotiate my bundle. I specifically asked was this my total because in the past there was a discrepancy. I was “assured” this was my price. Guess what, it’s not. My bill was over $7.00 additional per month. Do the math, that’s almost $200 additional over 24 months. Upon contacting Verizon Fios I was told “I’m sorry you were promised something and we can’t honor it. My bill was adjusted for 1 month and my internet speed was increased for my inconvenience. Nice gesture however I don’t need a faster internet speed. I was also reminded if the price was unacceptable I wasn’t locked into a contract. Just leaves a horrible taste in your mouth when you ask all the questions, take screen shots of your chat and this happens.

3 years ago

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Dave Bowie, MD

Service is decent when it works. They can't seem to find nor fix an "outage" that prevents me from getting all of my local HD channels so I end up paying for something I rarely get. They've replaced the main box and the backup box in my house but the "outages" continue. This is especially annoying when local sports teams are on this local channel because lately the channel has been going out just before the event. World Series and football games were hit or miss, mostly miss. Sure, the standard definition feed is available but I pay good money for the HD bundle that I have, not to mention the HD TV's. I'm not doing any more troubleshooting exercises in futility, I'm going back to DIRECTV, for better or worse.

5 years ago

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joanne roy Mechanicsburg, PA

I moved to PA in the middle of 2019, in the last 18 months I had to change my main cable box 4 times as it either wasn’t working properly or won’t even turn on anymore. I have had to change boxes in another room twice also. Seriously considering leave when my 2 years come up as I am getting tired of this not to mention you have to keep upstaging your router a d paying more every time.

4 years ago

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Chris Huff Silver Spring, MD

On demand is horrible with V Fios. i was just using Comcast and the on demand was amazing. With VF I couldn't watch a replay of the World Cup game from a few hours earlier. With comcast I could. If you buy a movie in verizon then you lose it when you leave their service. So hard to find anything in their year old on demand interface. Abysmal.

6 years ago

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Peter Land O' Lakes, FL

They were very expensive. Customer service was average and they drilled a hole in my garage and when I cancel the service left the box there. It is still there to this day very negative process and experience while canceling my contract.

1 year ago

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Jill Nilson Alpine, UT

We had Verzion for several years but then had to change servie because of the poor reception we began to have in our area and then they kept telling us that they were fixing it and after of year of hassling them we finially got someone that told us the truth and said they were not actually fixing the problem. So we left them.

6 years ago

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Roberta Profitt Marcus Hook, PA

Have been in a contract. I must have hundreds of channels but only watch about 3. Overpriced, internet is terrible. You can't get anyone on the phone.

3 years ago

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Michael Blount Haymarket, VA

Verizon can be relied upon for ONE thing: sending out a bill. Otherwise, they're useless

6 years ago