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Verizon Tests FiOS Web-to-TV Feature

6:05 am on July 28, 2008 | Category: Internet, Telecom Services, Television

Verizon Communications is testing new technology for its FiOS TV service, that will deliver online video content from sites like YouTube, Veoh Networks, Break.com, and Blip.tv, directly to subscribers’ TV sets.

The feature, as it has been developed, will require FiOS customers to install Verizon’s Media Manager software on a Personal Computer, which acts as an intermediary device. The software regularly indexes video clips from selected sites, allowing the customer to stream content to their FiOS set-top box.

Verizon’s media relations director, Bobbi Henson, confirmed that the company was working with internet video sites such as YouTube and Veoh, to test the new feature, but said it is “premature to give any kind of service launch dateâ€¦ since this is still in the testing phase and weâ€™ll make adjustments to the service based on test feedback.”

When it is launched, the Web-to-TV service will likely be offered as part of Verizon’s Home Media DVR package, which currently allows for PC photo-sharing and multiroom DVR playback at a cost of $19.99 per month.

The addition of internet content to the FiOS TV service was first mentioned by Verizon’s Chief Information Officer, Shaygan Kheradpir, at Oppenheimer & Co.’s Annual Communication & Technology Conference on June 3.

“In addition to music and pictures which we have today, we’ve also added video so you can stream video from your PC or go out to the Internet and get content and bring it to your nice HDTV,” Kheradpir said at the time.

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