FiOS TV offers more than 600 channels, including 130 high-definition (HD) channels in Philadelphia -- more HD channels than the city's current cable provider, Comcast. Residents and small businesses in three areas -- parts of Chestnut Hill, South Philadelphia and North Philadelphia -- will be among the first to benefit from this exciting new service. Additional areas will be made available later this year.

A video Q&A on the FiOS launch in Philadelphia can be found here: http://verizon.mediaseed.tv/Story.aspx?story=37181.

Verizon's FiOS TV was ranked highest in the East Region in the J.D. Power and Associates "2009 Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction Survey." It is the second consecutive year that FiOS TV has received the No. 1 ranking. In the television study, FiOS outperformed all competitors measured in overall satisfaction and three factors: performance and reliability, cost of service, and offers and promotions.

Verizon's consumer broadband services also outperform all their competitors when it comes to overall customers satisfaction in the East, according to the J.D. Power and Associates "2009 Internet Service Provider (ISP) Residential Customer Satisfaction Study"(SM)( ) released Oct. 28.

Philadelphia residents who are FiOS TV-eligible now have the option to trim their monthly bills with packages that include FiOS TV, FiOS Internet and voice service for as little as $99.99 a month with a price guarantee for 24 months. Customers who sign up for a qualifying FiOS service before Dec. 19 may be eligible for $150 cash back and a free Home Media DVR for three months. Verizon also offers a "quad-play" bundle of FiOS TV, FiOS Internet, home phone and wireless service starting at $105 per month, plus the cost of the Verizon Wireless plan.

Customers interested in FiOS TV can visit www.verizon.com/fiostv or call 1-888-GET FiOS (888-438-3467) for more information.

Small and medium-sized businesses interested in business-grade FiOS services can visit www.verizon.com/bizfiostv, or call 877-FiOS BIZ (877-346-7249) for more information.

FiOS TV Service Highlights

FiOS TV service highlights include:

    --  More than 600 all-digital channels, in the Philadelphia region, grouped
        by genres such as entertainment, sports, news, marketplace, music,
        movies and family, making it easy for audiences to find their favorite
        programming.

    --  A total of 130 HD channels available for Philadelphia customers, with
        extraordinary clarity and theater-quality sound.

    --  An industry-leading library of more than 18,000 video-on-demand (VOD)
        titles each month, 70 percent of which are free. In addition, the VOD
        library includes more than 2,400 HD titles per month.

    --  An innovative interactive media guide (IMG) that provides
        next-generation, personalized interactive services, along with content
        from TV listings, VOD catalogs and the digital video recorder (DVR), as
        well as personal music, videos and photos from a home network.  Among
        the features of the IMG are:

    --  Multi-Room DVR - Use one DVR to record HD and SD programs to up to six
        other TV sets throughout the home.  This includes the ability to watch
        three separately recorded shows on three TV sets at the same time, plus
        pause recorded programming in one room and continue watching in another.

    --  Media Manager - This feature lets FiOS DVR customers access personal
        photos, videos, music and slide shows from their home computers and play
        them on their TVs.  Subscribers also can search for and enjoy online
        videos from blip.tv, Dailymotion and Veoh on their TV screens.

    --  Remote DVR management - Subscribers can remotely control their DVRs
        online, and via any cell phone with a data plan.  Customers can use the
        service to remotely review, change or add recording requests; delete
        recorded programs; browse and search TV and VOD listings; set parental
        controls; and more.

    --  Widgets - Customers have one-touch, on-demand access to personalized
        information such as local traffic reports, daily local and national news
        headlines, fantasy sports, daily national sports headlines, and daily
        horoscopes, as well as interactive social TV applications from Twitter
        and Facebook, all while still enjoying their TV programming.  Additional
        widgets include:

    --  ESPN Fantasy Football - FiOS TV customers who are registered users of
        ESPN Fantasy Football will have instant on-screen access to personalized
        NFL statistics, including rosters, box scores, scoring leaders and
        player information.

    --  Pro Football Widget - One-stop access to NFL stats and the NFL RedZone
        channel, giving customers who subscribe to the channel the ability to
        set on-screen alerts for whenever a team is moving into its opponent's
        20-yard line. The alerts, once set, pop up at the bottom of the TV
        screen while viewers are watching any channel.

    --  KODAK Widget - This widget gives registered KODAK Gallery users instant
        on-screen access to photos and slideshows that they have stored on
        Kodak's online digital photo service.

    --  Weatherbug Widget - Provides instant access to real-time, personalized
        weather information and forecasts.  Subscribers can customize weather
        reports by any zip code, pull up hourly or seven-day forecasts, and view
        radar weather imagery to see how local conditions are developing.

    --  Free casual games - With the remote control and an HD set-top box,
        customers can access chess, solitaire, sudoku and wordplay.

    --  What's Hot on FiOS TV - Features information on the most-popular
        programs currently being broadcast in the region and the most popular
        VOD titles.

    --  Dual Pause and Play - Allows customers to pause live programming, change
        channels, and then return to the paused program and pick up where they
        left off.

    --  Channel sorting options - Customers can create two separate lists of
        favorite channels for family members.  Customers also can filter
        channels in the guide by genre, for instances where a customer may only
        want to see HD content, international channels or kids programming,
        among others.

Programming choices for Hispanic, African-American, Asian, Russian and other multicultural audiences are available, making FiOS TV an outlet for emerging and independent networks to showcase their diverse programming.

FiOS TV is delivered over Verizon's all-fiber-optic network, which brings the power and capacity of fiber optics directly into people's homes and has industry-leading quality and reliability. Fiber delivers amazingly sharp pictures and sound, and has the capacity to transmit a wide array of high-definition programming that is so clear and intense it seems to leap from the TV screen. This network also offers FiOS Internet service, which delivers downstream speeds of up to 50 Mbps (megabits per second) and upstream speeds of up to 20 Mbps, as well as high-quality voice services.

Free Verizon Wi-Fi access at thousands of locations across the U.S. is available for FiOS Internet customers with up-to-20 Mbps or faster packages. Free Wi-Fi hot spot locations include hotels, airports, restaurants, coffee shops, retailers and other public locations across the U.S. For a list of hot-spot locations, visit www.verizon.com/hotspots.

The value of FiOS TV extends to installation and customer support. Specially trained Verizon technicians will install the service for up to three existing TV outlets and acquaint subscribers with FiOS TV features and services. Verizon provides 24 x 7 technical assistance by phone from its Fiber Solutions Centers.

Verizon FiOS customers also have access to the Verizon In-Home Agent, a free application that gives them valuable tools to set up services, configure Wi-Fi links, set up and manage voice mail, auto-fix video problems, and trouble-shoot and correct Internet issues - all with the simple click of a mouse.

Verizon introduced FiOS TV in the greater Philadelphia region about three years ago. The company now offers FiOS TV service in about 300 communities in Pennsylvania.

(More information about FiOS TV and fiber optics is available in Verizon's online News Center at www.verizon.com/news.)

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 89 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 230,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $97 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon

http://www.verizon.com

"Simply watching the game isn't enough. Today's sports fans want to immerse themselves in sports multimedia," said Shawn Strickland, vice president, marketing, Verizon Telecom. "The immense capacity of our advanced network is giving FiOS subscribers amazing new services and experiences that take in-home sports enjoyment to a level that far surpasses old-school cable and in many ways even goes beyond being at the stadium. FiOS is changing the way people access and interact with sports broadcasts, both on TV and online."

Thanksgiving weekend is an intense week for football fans as they watch their favorite college and pro teams battle it out for top rankings and playoff spots. Verizon FiOS enhances sports viewing at home with a broad range of modern TV and broadband tools and experiences that include:

    --  FiOS TV is the picture-quality benchmark: FiOS TV delivers pure HD
        picture and sound. Unlike some cable providers, FiOS TV HD quality is
        not deteriorated by the recompression of HD signals before they are
        passed on to customers.  Plus, FiOS TV offers 100 percent digital
        quality on every channel.

    --  NFL Network: The NFL Network is the only destination for all that
        happens around the National Football League, on and off the field.  FiOS
        TV subscribers will be able to watch the Giants-Broncos game on
        Thanksgiving on the channel (Nov. 26, 8:20 p.m. Eastern time).  Plus,
        the NFL Network - which Time Warner Cable, Cablevision and Bright House
        subscribers can't get - will broadcast five additional Thursday night
        games live later this season.

    --  NFL RedZone Channel: Takes viewers around the league every Sunday
        afternoon for live coverage of critical plays when any team is inside
        its opponent's 20-yard line.

    --  Pro Football Widget: Stay up to the minute on NFL action with quick
        access to rosters, player details and headline news. Using the widget,
        NFL RedZone channel subscribers also can set on-screen alerts for
        whenever a team moves inside its opponent's 20-yard line.

    --  ESPN Fantasy Sports Widget:  Provides instant personalized on-screen
        access to viewers' ESPN Fantasy Football teams, including real-time
        scoring, rosters, box scores, scoring leaders and player information.
        All the information is available, at no additional charge, for FiOS TV
        customers who are registered ESPN Fantasy Football users.

    --  Twitter Widget:  Subscribers can use FiOS TV's unique Twitter Widget to
        log onto Twitter to offer up their own game commentary right on their TV
        screen while watching the game.

    --  Home Media DVR:  Subscribers never have to miss a game because they're
        away or because the family wants to watch something else on the big
        screen.  Verizon's advanced DVR lets subscribers record programming on
        one set that can then be watched on up to six other TV sets in the home.
        Subscribers can also pause recorded programming on one set and continue
        to watch it on another - and can take the recorded game to any room
        without missing a play.

    --  Remote DVR Management: Forgot to set the DVR to record the game?  No
        worries.  Subscribers can remotely manage their FiOS DVR via any
        broadband connection or any broadband-enabled cell phone.

    --  Media Manager:  Subscribers can create their own personal half-time show
        by using Verizon's Media Manager service to stream photo slide shows,
        music and videos from their home computer or laptop to their
        home-entertainment system.

    --  ESPN360 on FiOS Internet:  Each week during football season, ESPN360
        brings Verizon broadband customers live college football games featuring
        the nation's top teams, as well as replays of games from previous weeks.
        Games are available exclusively online, at no additional charge to
        Verizon FiOS Internet and High Speed Internet customers.

    --  Two-Way Fast Broadband:  With download speeds of up to 50 Mbps and
        upload speeds up to 20 Mpbs, FiOS Internet provides the two-way speed
        needed to quickly upload and share photos from a game-watching party, or
        to enjoy games and highlights online.

    --  Free Wi-Fi Connections:  Away from home?  Stay connected to online
        games, stats and scores at more than 5,000 Verizon hot spots nationwide,
        including airports, cafes, hotels and more.  All customers who subscribe
        to FiOS Internet service with downstream connections of up to 20 Mbps or
        higher already receive the free wi-fi access.  For a list of hot-spot
        locations, visit www.verizon.net/hotspots.

Verizon is the only company in the U.S. to bring 100 percent fiber optics straight to the home, delivering America's top-rated broadband with download connections speeds of up to 50 megabits per second, more pure HD TV channels, amazing picture-and-sound quality, and interactive capabilities that cable can't match.

FiOS TV offers a broad collection of programming, with more than 500 all-digital channels, including more than 126 HD channels, and more than 18,000 monthly VOD titles. FiOS provides next-generation interactive services including an advanced interactive media guide; social TV, news and entertainment widgets; remote DVR management; multi-room DVR, and more.

For the latest news, updates and information about FiOS TV, visit www.verizon.com/newscenter and http://www.verizon.com/athomeblog.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 89 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 230,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $97 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon Communications Inc.

http://www.verizon.com

The second annual How Sweet the Sound finale brought together the best church choirs from 11 cities across the nation. Gospel music celebrities, who added performances to the night's entertainment, judged and hosted the event. Returning for a second year, GRAMMY(R)-winning music legend Marvin Sapp helped judge the choirs along with GRAMMY Award-winning Gospel artist Dorinda Clark Cole and Gospel music legend Byron Cage. GRAMMY Award-winning songwriter, producer, arranger and music director Donald Lawrence served as emcee, and singer, songwriter, producer and actress Lisa Kimmey-Winans joined the How Sweet the Sound veterans as a co-host. The evening also featured special performances by the legendary Clark Sisters, Brother Hahz, Kurt Carr and special guest James Fortune. The Remnant Concert Choir from Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., was named runner-up and received a cash prize of $15,000.

"Now in its second year, How Sweet the Sound has been an opportunity to celebrate the unique ways music connects people within the community. We congratulate Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir and recognize the tremendous talent of all of the choirs that participated in this competition," said Sikita Grayson, director of customer service for Verizon Wireless. "We are delighted to be able to bring to the community such an uplifting event, and we have been inspired by the energy of the churches throughout the competition."

Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir plans to use the prize money to record a live CD in 2010. This will be their first recording. Brandon Frazier, music director for Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir said, "How Sweet the Sound does everything first class. It's been a once-in-a-lifetime experience participating and to win -- I'm still taking it in. It's an amazing feeling and has already opened so many doors for our choir."

Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir from Atlanta West Pentecostal Church additionally won the V CAST People's Choice Award and a $5,000 cash prize. During the grand finale, audience members were asked to text their votes for their favorite choir to help decide the Verizon Wireless V CAST People's Choice Award.

Verizon Wireless customers can download and watch video clips from the grand finale performances in the Music category on their V CAST-capable phones. For more information about the competition, visit www.howsweetthesound.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving 89 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless

http://www.verizonwireless.com

FiOS TV now offers more than 600 total channels in Massachusetts- including 123 HD channels, more than any local cable TV company, including Comcast.

"FiOS TV gives consumers in these communities an outstanding alternative for their video entertainment with superior picture-and-sound quality, and innovative, interactive features that cable can't match," said Donna Cupelo, Verizon region president for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. "Customers in these communities who liked what FiOS did for their Internet connection will love what it does for their TV. We've harnessed the vast capacity of our advanced fiber-optic network to deliver a revolutionary, new entertainment experience giving customers the best choice for TV."

Massachusetts residents who are FiOS TV-eligible now have the option to trim their monthly bills by bundling FiOS TV service, FiOS Internet service and the Verizon Freedom Essentials unlimited calling plan, for as little as $79.99 a month. They also can add a Verizon Wireless calling plan for a Grand Slam of communications and entertainment services.

Residents in Billerica, Fitchburg, Milford, North Attleborough and Westford can check online at www.verizon.com/fios for more information or to request that Verizon contact them when FiOS services become available. Customers also can call their local Verizon sales office or 888-GET FiOS (888-438-3467).

Small and medium-sized businesses interested in business-grade FiOS services can visit www.verizon.com/bizfiostv to see online rebate offers of up to $409 depending on the services selected, or call 877-FiOS BIZ (877-346-7249) for more information.

FiOS TV Service Highlights

FiOS TV service highlights include:

    --  More than 600 all-digital channels in Massachusetts grouped by genres
        such as entertainment, sports, news, shopping, movies and family, making
        it easy for audiences to find their favorite programming.
    --  A total of 123 HD channels available for Massachusetts customers, with
        extraordinary clarity and theater-quality sound.
    --  An industry-leading library of more than 18,000 video-on-demand (VOD)
        titles each month, 70 percent of which are free. In addition, the VOD
        library includes 2,400 HD titles per month.
    --  An innovative interactive media guide (IMG) that gives customers a rich,
        personalized television experience with content from TV listings, VOD
        catalogs and the digital video recorder (DVR), as well as personal music
        and photos from a home network.  Among the features of the IMG are:
        --  Multi-Room DVR - Verizon's Home Media DVR allows customers to stream
            recorded HD and standard-definition (SD) programs to up to six other
            TV sets throughout the home.  This includes the ability to watch
            three separately recorded shows on three TV sets at the same time,
            plus pause recorded programming in one room and continue watching in
            another.
        --  Media Manager - This feature lets FiOS DVR customers access personal
            photos, videos, music and slide shows from their home computers and
            play them on their TVs.  Subscribers also can search for and enjoy
            online videos from blip.tv, Dailymotion and Veoh on their TV
            screens.
        --  Remote DVR management - FiOS TV subscribers can remotely control
            their DVRs online, and via any cell phone with a data plan.
            Subscribers can use the service to remotely review, change or add
            recording requests; delete recorded programs; browse and search TV
            and video-on-demand listings; set parental controls; and more.
        --  Widgets - Customers have one-touch, on-demand access to personalized
            information such as traffic reports, daily local and national news
            headlines, fantasy sports, daily national sports headlines, and
            daily horoscopes, as well as interactive social TV applications from
            Twitter and Facebook, all while still enjoying their TV programming.
            Additional widgets include:
            --  ESPN Fantasy Football - FiOS TV customers who are registered
                users of ESPN Fantasy Football will have instant on-screen
                access to personalized NFL statistics, including rosters, box
                scores, scoring leaders and player information.
            --  Pro Football Widget - One-stop access to NFL stats and the NFL
                RedZone channel, giving customers who subscribe to the channel
                the ability to set on-screen alerts for whenever a team is
                moving inside its opponent's 20-yard line.  The alerts, once set
                up, pop up at the bottom of the TV screen while subscribers are
                watching any channel.
            --  KODAK Widget - This widget gives registered KODAK Gallery users
                instant on-screen access to photos and slideshows that they have
                stored on Kodak's online digital photo service.
            --  Weatherbug Widget - Provides instant access to real-time,
                personalized weather information and forecasts.  Subscribers can
                customize weather reports by any zip code, pull up hourly or
                seven-day forecasts, and view radar weather imagery to see how
                local conditions are developing.
        --  Free casual games - With the remote control, customers can access
            chess, solitaire, sudoku and wordplay.
        --  "What's Hot on FiOS TV" - Features information on the most-popular
            programs currently being broadcast in the region and the most
            popular VOD titles.
        --  Dual Pause and Play - Allows customers to pause live programming,
            change channels, and then return to the paused program and pick up
            where they left off.

        --  Channel sorting options - Customers can create two separate lists of
            favorite channels for family members.  Customers also can filter
            channels in the guide by genre, for instances where a customer only
            may want to see HD content, international channels or kids
            programming, among others.

Programming choices for Hispanic, African-American, Asian, Russian and other multicultural audiences are available in every market, making FiOS TV an outlet for emerging and independent networks to showcase their diverse programming.

Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network, the largest of its kind in the country, is currently under construction in more than half the states where the company offers landline communications services. The network brings the power and capacity of fiber optics directly into people's homes and has industry-leading quality and reliability. Fiber delivers amazingly sharp pictures and sound, and has the capacity to transmit a wide array of high-definition programming that is so clear and intense it seems to leap from the TV screen. It also delivers Internet download speeds of up to 50 Mbps* (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 20 Mbps as well as high-quality voice services.

The value of FiOS TV extends to the installation and customer support. Specially trained Verizon technicians will install the service and acquaint subscribers with FiOS TV features and services. Verizon is waiving the installation fee for up to three existing TV outlets, and there is no charge to install a needed optical network terminal at the subscriber's home. Charges for other installation services, such as additional outlets, may apply. Verizon provides 24 x 7 technical assistance by phone from its Fiber Solutions Centers in Providence, R.I., and other cities.

[In Massachusetts, FiOS TV is available in Abington, Acton, Andover, Arlington, Ashland, Bedford, Bellingham, Belmont, Billerica, Boxborough, Boxford, Braintree, Burlington, Canton, Danvers, Dedham, Dover, Dunstable, Easton, Fitchburg, Framingham, Franklin, Georgetown, Grafton, Groton, Hamilton, Hanover, Hingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Hull, Ipswich, Kingston, Lakeville, Lawrence, Leominster, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Mansfield, Marion, Marlborough, Marblehead, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Melrose, Mendon, Methuen, Middleborough, Middleton, Milford, Millbury, Nahant, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norfolk, North Andover, North Attleborough , North Reading, Northborough, Norwood, Norwell, Plymouth, Reading, Rochester, Rockland, Rowley, Sherborn, Southborough, Stoneham, Stoughton, Stow, Sudbury, Sutton, Swampscott, Taunton, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Wareham, Wayland, Wellesley, Wenham, West Newbury, Westborough, Westford, Weston, Westwood, Wilmington, Winchester, Wrentham and Woburn, and will soon be available in Chelmsford.]

(More information about FiOS TV and fiber optics is available in Verizon's online News Center at www.verizon.com/news.)

* NOTE: Actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 89 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 230,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $97 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com/news.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon

www.verizon.com/fios