Verizon Customers To Get News12 To Replace Fios1 News

After announcing nearly three weeks ago that it was closing its own local news channel, Verizon announced a deal with Altice that will give Fios customers access to News12, which was previously only available Altice/Optimum customers.

Verizon announced on Aug. 19 that it would be shutting down Fios1 after a decade of operation. The network will stop broadcasting on Nov. 16.

Fios customers will get access to News 12 in November. And early next year, customers will also get access to Altice's i24NEWS, a global current-affairs news network, and Cheddar, a digital business network.

The news that Verizon was shutting down Fios1 was met with backlash from local poiticians, though, who urged the company to keep the network open. Ten House members representing Westchester, Long Island and parts of New Jersey all signed a letter asking Verizon to reconsider.

And Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen held a press conference on Friday, joined by other local representatives, to try to urge Verizon to keep the network. She cited not only the importance of the network, but how it was another blow to local journalism.