With 350,000 Verizon Customers Tuned In to DIRECTV, Survey Shows Most Have Left Cable for Good

NEW YORK - If, as the DIRECTV commercials say, "Somebody up there loves you," Verizon customers who have DIRECTV services are responding in kind.

A vast majority -- 84 percent -- of DIRECTV customers who purchased the entertainment service from Verizon say they'd recommend the Verizon calling and entertainment bundle to their friends, and about four out of five say they'll never go back to their old entertainment service provider, according to a Verizon customer satisfaction survey. It was conducted among some of Verizon's 350,000 customers subscribing to DIRECTV.

A $100 mail-in rebate offer on the new DIRECTV Plus^® DVR (digital video recorder) and value-oriented bundle savings have generated an increasing number of calls to Verizon from cable customers who have learned that adding DIRECTV to their Verizon calling and Internet bundles guarantees savings as well as offers the latest in television technology. The new DIRECTV Plus DVR allows customers to pause and rewind live TV for up to 90 minutes, record and save up to 100 hours of programming, and mark and instantly access favorite scenes in recorded shows.

DIRECTV customers have access to more than 250 channels of digital-quality programming including favorite family, variety, news and entertainment networks, along with the advanced services like DVRs, interactivity and high-definition programming.

Now, Verizon customers with a qualifying calling plan and high-speed Internet service or dial-up can not only enjoy monthly bundle savings but also take advantage of DIRECTV's TOTAL CHOICE^® package -- plus HBO, Starz^® Super Pack and SHOWTIME UNLIMITED^® -- for $29.99 per month for the first three months. And that's before the Verizon bundle savings. The offer runs through February for new DIRECTV orders.

With this offer and the bundle savings, in some markets, Verizon customers now can get traditional high-value network-based calling, high-speed Internet and DIRECTV entertainment services for less than $70 to start.

Also popular with customers: DIRECTV service and bundle savings appear on a single monthly Verizon bill, providing added convenience.

"DIRECTV offers a high-quality service, and our customers recognize it," said Judy Verses, senior vice president of regional marketing for Verizon. "Linked together, the two brands are a hit."

Verizon has introduced two new unlimited any-distance calling plans in 12 markets that allow customers to assemble high-value bundles of voice, Internet and video services. Verizon Freedom Essentials offers unlimited domestic calling plus Caller ID, Call Waiting and Home Voice Mail at prices ranging from $34.95 to $44.95 a month; and Verizon Freedom Value offers unlimited domestic calling only for $29.95 to $34.95 a month. With these new calling plans, customers can purchase a discounted bundle of calling, DSL and DIRECTV for as little as $74.85, depending on their location.

Verizon's bundled prices for calling, high-speed Internet and entertainment services are competitive in all markets and frequently beat the non-promotional prices for similar bundles offered by cable TV and other competitors.

The customer satisfaction results reflect the popularity of Verizon's strategy to let customers virtually customize the service packages, choosing from a variety of calling plans; as many as five different high-speed Internet services, including Verizon FiOS Internet service at three different download speeds in some markets; and DIRECTV's many programming packages.

"This kind of choice makes the one-size-fits-all offers from cable companies seem confining to our customers," Verses said. "Combing choice and good prices is what feeds customer satisfaction -- and compelling survey results."

Verizon conducted customer service satisfaction surveys among more than 500 families who had recently purchased DIRECTV service through Verizon.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other communication innovations to wireline and wireless customers. Verizon operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 million customers nationwide; one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks; and one of the nation's premier wireline networks, serving home, business and wholesale customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of approximately 250,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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