Washington, D.C. (November 2, 2009) -- Verizon's FiOS TV subscription growth has slowed considerably in the second half of the year, notes Multichannel News.

In the first half of 2009, the telco TV service added 599,000 subscribers. However, Verizon added just 191,000 subscribers in the third quarter, bringing its overall total to 2.7 million subscribers.

Wall Street analyst Craig Moffett said the 191,000 count was a "clear disappointment versus consensus expectations of 253,000." He noted that Verizon added 300,000 subs in the second quarter.

Despite the slower growth, however, Verizon has become the sixth largest TV provider in the United States. Cablevision, which Verizon  is battling in the New York area, is fifth with 3.1 million subs.

Verizon officials remained upbeat about the telco's future in television.

“Even through the worst of the recession, we have continued to raise our dividend and to add new customers, expand markets and grow revenues based on the power and innovation of Verizon’s wireless, broadband and global networks,” Verizon chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg said in announcing the third-quarter earnings.

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