Tomorrow Verizon will issue a news release about some of the new content coming to your FiOS TV screens this summer.  Because PolicyBlog readers have expressed a lot of interest – and frankly frustration – about new content, I’m giving you the heads up today.

What we will announce is that, beginning in July, we’ll start adding new HD and standard-definition channels to the 400-plus channels we already carry.  This is the first step in a phased approach to ensure that Verizon FiOS TV leads all comers in providing both HD and SD programming choice.  In the coming weeks, we will add a total of about 60 new channels including at least 25 in HD.  The number varies by market depending on the number of local HD channels available.  By year end, Verizon will carry more HD programming than any of our competitors, and that will include all available major HD programming.

Some of the new content we’ll announce includes HD channels from Lifetime, Animal Planet, TLC, Science Channel and Smithsonian Channel, along with five new premium movie channels from Starz and Showtime.  We’ll also add Setanta Sports, a premium channel dedicated to bringing European and International soccer and rugby to U.S.-based fans, plus approximately 15 multicultural channels.      Other content we expect to offer includes Big Ten Network, MLB Extra Innings, NBA League Pass and NHL Center Ice, among others.

Obviously, negotiating program content is an ongoing process, and not something we can really do in public.  What I’ve tried to do is to give what indications I can on the blog, but I understand the frustration when I can’t say more.  Because of the nature of some programming negotiations, it is simply not possible for me to be more specific at this time.

Is this schedule different from the timetable we announced last November?  Yes, we’re a month or two later than we’d hoped.  The bottom line is that FiOS TV customers have a lot of new channels to look forward to, and we remain committed to being a leader in this category.