Verizon launches FiOS TV in Medford, Mass., faces off with Comcast

Verizon (NYSE: VZ) today said it has launched FiOS TV in Medford, Mass., the last community in the Bay State to likely get the service in the foreseeable future, as the telco focuses on increasing FiOS penetration rather than on expanding its footprint.

Medford, just five miles northwest of Boston and the birthplace of the Christmas song Jingle Bells, and about 75 percent of its 56,000 residents will have access to 540 total channels, 140 of them in HD, on the telco's fiber network. The service will become available to more residents as the Medford build out is completed.

Verizon will go toe-to-toe with incumbent Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA), and offer FlexView and FiOS TV Online as an alternative to Comcast's Xfinity.

Currently, 112 towns and cities in Massachusetts have access to FiOS, the end results of Verizon's $23 billion nationwide build out.

Boston.com said the franchise agreement with Medford took two years to negotiate. It was signed Feb. 3.

 For more:
- see this Boston.com article
- see this release

Related articles:
Medford, Mass. mayor wants Verizon to complete city's FiOS buildout
IPTV subscriber numbers on a long path of continuing growth...for the big guys
Verizon plans new push for FiOS services in next two years