The new high-def channels will include Lifetime, Animal Planet, TLC, Science Channel and the Smithsonian Channel as well as five new premium movie channels from Starz and Showtime.
Eric Rabe, Verizon's vice president for media relations, made the announcement today at the company's blog, PolicyBlog, located at Verizon.com.
Rabe said the company's official announcement will be released on Thursday.
Verizon's FiOS promised last year to offer up to 150 High-Definition channels by the end of 2008, but the telco has been slow to add channels thus far this year. Rabe said this first wave of high-def additions will "ensure that Verizon FiOS TV leads all comers in providing both HD and SD programming choice."
Verizon now offers slightly less than 40 high-def channels, but Rabe writes that "by year end Verizon will carry more HD programming than any of our competitors, and that will include all available major HD programming."
Rabe also says that Verizon "expects" to offer MLB Extra Innings,
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