Verizon FiOS Vs. Comcast Digital Cable: Which Has More Channels?

For years since I've been living in Maryland, I've been a Comcast Cable customer. I have never liked dealing with Comcast, because in my experience their services are overpriced and their customer service is not very good. But when it came to cable television service, Comcast was the only game in town, so I had no choice but to do business with them. Recently, I moved to a new area of Baltimore where Verizon offered their new FiOS television service. Because of their cheaper price, and my desire to do business with just about anyone other than Comcast, I made the switch and subscribed to cable television service from Verizon.

At first glance, cable service from both companies seems like it's about the same. All the major networks are offered by both carriers, along with dozens of smaller, "specialty" cable channels. But then I started to wonder who actually offered more channels: Verizon or Comcast? I headed to the websites of both cable carriers so I could do a head to head comparison. With Comcast Digital Cable (without any sports or premium channels), I would receive 160 channels plus an additional 40 music channels. This seemed like quite a lot.

Then, I took a look at Verizon FiOS and found that with the comparable cable package, I would be receiving just over 200 channels. The same 40 music channels offered by Comcast are also available on Verizon FiOS, and Verizon has an additional set of 40 music channels, bringing the total up to a whopping 80 music channels. I also took the time to look at the on-demand offerings from both companies, and it definitely seemed like Verizon had more to offer there as well. Besides for offering more channels, the Verizon FiOS service was about $30/month cheaper than Comcast Digital Cable, so I do not see why someone would pick Comcast over Verizon if FiOS is offered in their area.

When it comes to the number of channels offered, Verizon beats Comcast hands down. The fiber optic lines that carry Verizon FiOS television service can also carry more information than the traditional copper cable lines that Comcast uses, so Verizon has the capacity to add many more channels in the future while Comcast will be limited by their distribution infrastructure. I have had Verizon FiOS television service for a couple of months now, and I have been very pleased and would recommend it to anyone. If you're looking for the most channels for your dollar, Verizon FiOS is the way to go. For more information about Comcast or Verizon television services, check out the websites listed in the resources section of this article.