Last year Verizon began offering around 26 live FiOS channels to the Xbox 360 console, but the deal came with a few restrictions and didn't make a whole lot of sense. To access the content users not only needed to pay for an Xbox Live Gold account, but they also needed to subscribe to both broadband and television services from Verizon. Why would a user who already pays for Verizon FiOS TV and a set top really bother with using the 360 to access lower-quality versions of channels they already have access to?

The only clear answer is that Verizon's simply testing streaming out of curiosity with no real intent on entering the water quite yet. That, and evolution-terrified broadcasters are refusing to allow adequate licensing for fear of cannibalizing traditional TV revenues. Combined, you get a product that we're told is supposed to replace an extra, already-inexpensive set top, but really doesn't.

Along that vein Verizon and LG have announced a similar offer wherein users can get those same 26 channels streamed directly to their LG television:

LG Electronics and Verizon today announced an alliance that will offer a new entertainment experience for the LG Smart TV* platform, when LG introduces the Verizon FiOS TV app to current LG Smart TVs and Blu-ray players in 2012. The new app will allow Verizon FiOS TV subscribers to access 26 live HD channels directly through their connected LG Smart TV or Blu-ray Player without any additional hardware required.

In the process of trying to build hype LG's CES press release doesn't bother to tell you that to access this content you'll need to subscribe to both FiOS Internet and FiOS TV services. So again, why exactly would a customer who already has a FiOS set top use the integrated content being offered via their television? Verizon should either get into over the top streaming and offer a product that seriously offers a traditional TV alternative, or stop screwing around.
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Tags: blu ray players, lg television, quality streams, smart tvs, verizon fios tv

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