Verizon to Offer More Flexible FiOS TV Channel Packs Verizon has announced they're shaking up their FiOS TV channel options by offering a "skinny bundle" of TV channels, onto which customers can add a variety of channel packs. The idea is not entirely unlike what SlingTV has started offering, or what Canadian regulators are forcing Canadian TV operators to offer next year. It's not pure a la carte, but it's certainly progress.

Reuters states that starting April 19 , Verizon will begin offering "Custom TV" packages that start at $65 bundled with broadband service, or $55 as a standalone TV options without Internet. This basic lineup will feature 36 fixed basic channels and two genre-based channel packs, such as a sports bundle or kids channels. From there, users can add on any of a selection of seven extra channel packs for $10 each, swapping or unsubscribing from any pack after 30 days. While many TV executives have buried their head in the sand at the very notion of cord cutting being real, Verizon has traditionally been more progressively minded on the subject, and it shows here. The telco clearly hopes the new, more flexible channel options will not only lure more customers over from cable, it will keep subscribers from fleeing to over the top video services. Curiously, Verizon only leaked the plans initially to Reuters and hasn't issued a formal announcement on the service, making me wonder if there's some fine print or caveats the company didn't want highlighted. We'll take a closer look at the offerings next week when the new options go live for FiOS subscribers. Update: Verizon has offered us a little more detail on precisely what pricing will look like:

: Verizon has offered us a little more detail on precisely what pricing will look like:







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Most recommended from 61 comments

nfotiu

join:2009-01-25 3 recommendations nfotiu Member I assume the expensive channels are still in the main bundle though The problem with these models is that about 5 channels account for about 95% of the carriage fees. ESPN,TNT.. etc. Those channels also force the carrier to carry them in their lowest possible bundle, and ensure everyone pays their carriage fees.



So who cares if they unbundle the advertising supported channels that cost 5 cents a month when they still make everyone pay $20 a month for ESPN and a couple other channels.

pjsutton

join:2013-06-25

Kempton, PA 5.1 1.0

2 recommendations pjsutton Member Wow I find this really surprising! Especially since Verizon is typically so ... "stuff happens but we're not too concerned"



I hope this catches on with other carriers- I could really care less about any of the dozens of sports channels, and they are what cost so much.