Skip to main content

Verizon is killing off its FiOS TV apps for Xbox, smart TVs on March 31

With services like Sling TV and PlayStation Vue on the rise, cable and satellite companies are scrambling to offer their own options to keep customers from jumping ship. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to extend to keeping value-added services around if a lot of customers aren’t using them.

Such is the case with Verizon and its FiOS TV app. Users of the app on Xbox consoles and some smart TVs and Blu-Ray players suddenly found out that their days using the app were numbered, as Verizon is retiring it from those platforms at the end of the month, Ars Technica reports.

Recommended Videos

“On March 31, 2016, the FiOS TV app you are using to watch your FiOS TV programming through a Smart TV or an Xbox gaming system will be retired and will no longer be available for use,” an email sent from Verizon to users of these apps read. “Sorry for the inconvenience.”

Verizon tried to soften the blow by offering an alternative, but it isn’t very likely to make affected users any happier. “But we have great news; you can watch your FiOS TV content using our FiOS Mobile app from your smartphone or tablet,” the email continues. “This app allows you to stream TV content in and out of your home and so much more.”

While the mobile app may be fine for those who were just using the TV or Xbox apps for the sheer novelty, it doesn’t replace one of the main use cases for either app. Now customers who were using the app on a second TV will need a second set-top box to replace functionality that is currently free.

Xbox 360 users might have seen this coming, since both AT&T U-verse and Comcast announced that support for the platform was ending, while ESPN will also soon be ending multi-screen support for the console. Xbox One owners will likely be more shocked, however, given both the relative newness of the console and its focus on serving as an entertainment hub.

This news comes on the heels of a proposal to replace standard cable and satellite set-top boxes with a more universal system that wouldn’t require customers to rent boxes from their providers. Companies including Verizon argued that this wasn’t necessary since they provide TV Everywhere apps for other platforms. At least for some platforms, in Verizon’s case, that’s about to be in the past tense.

Kris Wouk
Former Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
Death Valley is one of 3 great Britbox shows you should watch in July 2025
An old man and a young woman look at photos in Death Valley.

If you're tired of American television and the lack of sophistication that stems from many U.S. shows, BritBox might be the answer to your prayers. While it's true that Brits are inherently more sophisticated than their American counterparts, their TV tends to be a bit more refined.

If you have a BritBox subscription but aren't sure exactly what to do with it, we've got you covered. We've pulled together a list of three great shows that are the perfect entry point if you're looking for something great on BritBox:

Read more
Admit it — You still love Stranger Things, and the season 5 teaser trailer is awesome
A group of teens look down as one holds a chainsaw.

It's easy to poke fun at Stranger Things because of how long it's taken to reach the end. When season 5 concludes later this year, the Netflix series will have produced 42 episodes of television in just under 10 years. For comparison, The X-Files released roughly 200 episodes in under nine years. The pandemic and strikes are legitimate reasons for the delays, but the long hiatuses for Stranger Things have been frustrating for fans, to the point where some are questioning if they'll even care about the final season.

After watching the season 5 teaser trailer, all the feelings of resentment have been replaced with excitement. The teaser looks awesome, and I can't wait for the show's final run this fall.

Read more
Inception at 15 — Why the sci-fi thriller is Christopher Nolan’s best film
Bending buildings and the team from Christopher Nolan's film, Inception, in a promotional poster.

On July 16, 2010, writer-director Christopher Nolan released his groundbreaking sci-fi action film, Inception, to theaters around the world. Fresh off the blockbuster success of The Dark Knight, Nolan unleashed the unique story of Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he and his team of "extractors" are hired to enter a business heir's (Cillian Murphy) dreams and implant an idea into his subconscious, setting off a high-stakes journey through the dream world.

Inception continues to be one of Nolan's most popular and beloved motion pictures to date. Winning four Academy Awards and receiving nominations for four other Oscars, including the award for Best Picture, this action-packed, mind-bending heist film presented one of the most inventive blockbusters of the 21st century. While Nolan made many other incredible movies throughout his career, specifically Memento, The Dark Knight, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and Oppenheimer, there are many reasons why Inception surpasses them all 15 years after its premiere.

Read more