Cablevision is challenging validity of Verizon’s claim that TV service is 100% fiber-based
Cablevision wants a judge to decide whether the company can continue running an ad challenging Verizon Communications’ claim that its TV service is completely operated on a fiber optic network.
Cablevision attorneys filed the lawsuit May 19 with the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York.
Verizon Communications’ FiOS TV plan allows customers to break up traditional television bundles, and offers a core package of channels and a separate sports tier, which includes ESPN and ESPN2; the sports media giant is suing Verizon for breach of contract based on the tiered plan structure.
Other channels, such as Time Warner’s TNT and TBS and Comcast’s USA Network, have also been put into tiers under the Verizon service plan.
Back to Cablevision’s lawsuit: the company is running an ad, which Verizon obviously opposes, that includes a voice-over saying, “Verizon claims they’re all fiber optic. True or false? The answer is false.”
A Verizon representative said Cablevision is jealous of Verizon’s network and called the lawsuit a “legal stunt.”
“Cablevision cannot compete with Verizon FiOS, or even come close to providing the Internet speeds and performance available from Verizon’s 100% fiber-optic network. Since their network can’t compete against FiOS, they resort to legal stunts, which we will challenge vigorously.”
Cablevision also released a statement on the matter, reiterating Verizon’s use of old-fashioned coaxial cable in addition to fiber.
“Verizon FiOS is not all fiber and, in fact, uses regular coaxial cable inside the home. Cablevision ran an advertisement revealing that FiOS is not all fiber, and now Verizon is demanding that Cablevision stop running its ad. Consumers deserve to make informed decisions based on facts, and Cablevision is asking the court to intervene to stop Verizon from attempting to continue to mislead the public.”
