Verizon launched its first owned-and-operated television channel to be delivered over its FiOS fiber network. FiOS TV subscribers in the Washington metro area will be able to tune to the new local television channel, FiOS1, a one-stop shop for local weather, traffic, news, sports and community features.
Verizon is planning to launch similar channels in other markets this year.
Verizon’s first original programming is “Push-Pause,” featuring programming produced by citizen video journalists (VJs) who live in the area. FiOS1 also plans to invite viewers to submit their own local community stories for possible showing on “Push Pause.”
FiOS1 will also present a new program called “Limbo Local” that lets viewers use their mobile phones to text-message bids for items throughout the day. In a twist on the conventional notion of an auction, the person who submits the lowest unique bid at the close of the auction wins the prize.
FiOS1 will feature 20 hours of sports programming a week, including some high-school and college games in season. Verizon is an official partner of Georgetown University Athletics and has secured the rights to air certain George Mason University sporting events.
http://www.verizon.com
