Verizon To Offer 26 Channels Through Xbox Live App

Verizon has announced details of how its FiOS TV service will work on Xbox Live starting next month, with an initial lineup of 26 channels available to subscribers and special promotional deals targeted at Xbox owners. The lineup includes popular Viacom-owned channels such as MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central as well as Turner Broadcasting's TNT, TBS and CNN and Cartoon Network, among others. Subscribers to premium channels HBO and Cinemax will also be able to access live content from those channels, as well as on demand content through a separate Microsoft partnership with the HBO Go service. A Kotaku report says Verizon has promised to add more channels "as the service matures." Users will be able to navigate these channels and more using a Kinect-controllable program guide that shows current and upcoming programming in interface patterned after the upcoming Xbox 360 dashboard update. To promote its new Xbox-based video offering, Verizon is rewarding new customers who sign up for a $90/month "Triple Play" package (which includes Internet and phone service) by January 21 with a copy of Halo: Anniversary and a one year Xbox Live subscription. Verizon had previously announced it would offer "a selection of popular live TV channels" through the Xbox 360, alongside other announced Microsoft partnerships with Comcast, Bravo, Syfy and many other video content providers. A complete list of channels to be initially offered through the Verizon FiOS Xbox 360 app follows: HD Channels BET Cinemax CNN Comedy Central ESPNews Food Network HBO 2 HBO HGTV MTV Nickelodeon Spike TBS TNT Travel Channel truTV VH1 SD Channels Boomerang Cartoon Network DIY Hallmark Channel HLN MTV2 Nick Jr TCM TV Land