Verizon's FiOS first with EpixHD streaming
updated 07:55 am EDT, Fri October 30, 2009
FiOS Internet, TV users get 720p online
Verizon this morning became the first provider to offer EpixHD streaming video as part of its service. Those who have both a FiOS Internet connection and a FiOS TV subscription with the Epix TV channel can watch an unlimited amount of movies on the web at up to 720p. About 150 titles will be in rotation online, but the service will emphasize major, recent movies from MGM, Lionsgate and Parmaount; it should scale to include about 15,000 titles both old and new.
Adding Epix's on-demand channel to a FiOS TV package costs about $10 per month alongside an existing channel package.
EpixHD has already been regarded as a form of competition against online movie services that are independent of conventional TV, such as iTunes, Hulu or Netflix. By offering recent movies in HD without ads, EpixHD is being used as an incentive to remain on existing TV rather than to rely solely on Internet-based sources. Competing services such as Comcast's On Demand Online have so far been limited to limited trial markets.
