Verizon FiOS Bulks Up HD Offerings With Discovery Channels

NEW YORK, November 8: Verizon FiOS TV has added Discovery
Channel HD to its high-definition lineup, with plans to include HD simulcasts
of TLC, Animal Planet and The Science Channel next year.

The new offerings join Discovery’s standalone
high-definition service, HD Theater on FiOS TV.

The news comes on the heels of Verizon’s announcement of
plans to increase the number of HD channels to 150 by the end of 2008. HD
content will also be added to FiOS TV’s video-on-demand service.

"Discovery Channel HD is a great addition to the
Verizon FiOS TV lineup as we close out 2007 and look forward to our HD
expansion in 2008," said Terry Denson, the VP of content strategy and
acquisition for FiOS TV. "Discovery Communications' programming has wide
appeal across demographics and markets, and our HD customers will enjoy seeing
all this content with the amazing picture quality and sound that FiOS TV
delivers."

"Discovery's nonfiction programs like our award-winning
Planet Earth truly come alive in HD,
making our channels top destinations for viewers," said Bill Goodwyn, the
president of domestic distribution and enterprises for Discovery
Communications. "We are pleased to be working with Verizon to bring their
customers HD simulcasts of Discovery's most popular networks and to help drive
greater adoption of HD services."

—By Ned Berke