Verizon's salvo on cable TV

This is only the beginning.
cnet

Verizon Communications is well on its way to challenging cable providers head-on in the paid TV market, as it rolls out an advanced new fiber-optic network and begins to attract high-level programming partners.

The New York-based phone giant is spending billions of dollars on state-of-the-art technology that's expected to leapfrog its aging copper network, as well as cable operators, in raw capacity.

But in an effort to get to market more quickly, it will use traditional broadcast technology to deliver its TV service, rather than newer Internet-based technology that's slated to become the centerpeice of pending services from other phone companies. That's helping speed all-important content licensing deals in advance of Verizon's planned TV launch later this year, although it could ultimately leave the service short on new features.