Verizon Communications last week got approval from state regulators to offer its FiOS TV service in 45 Southern California cities, within Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.
The regulatory approval came after the enactment last fall of a new California law making its easier for companies to launch new video services that compete with cable. Verizon will offer 200 digital channels for a monthly fee.
AT&T's U-verse IPTV service has launched in limited areas of Dallas-Fort Worth, the largest market in Texas. The service has also launched in Milwaukee and Racine, WI. Later this month, the service is scheduled to launch in the Kansas City area.