Verizon launches on-demand movies and TV in high-definition

Verizon FiOS TV customers in a handful of the company's markets have received an early holiday gift: on-demand movies and television shows in high-definition.

75 HD titles will be made available initially, which includes free programs and movies that can be purchased like "Transformers" and "Surf's Up." Free HD titles range from MTV music videos to shows from Wealth TV and Golfweek Magazine, the company said.

Verizon plans to expand its HD lineup to 1,000 titles next year, when the HD on-demand service rolls out to all of its customers. Richmond and Virginia Beach, Va.; Tampa, Fla.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Pittsburgh will see the addition immediately, while the Washington, D.C. metro area, Massachusetts and Rhode Island markets should follow shortly.

The move to on-demand in high-definition comes one month after Verizon said it plans to have 150 HD channels available to FiOS customers by the end of 2008. Rivals DirecTV and Comcast have promised similar ramping-up of HD programming.