Apparently Verizon has rid itself of the obsessive need to add Golf Channel HD to every area it serves, but in doing so, it also rid itself of the desire to do just about anything else FiOS TV-related. This week, we're seeing the fiber-based service spread to three new JPI apartment buildings in Washington, D.C.'s Capitol Riverfront neighborhood along with the opening of a FiOS Services store in Yonkers, New York. Outside of that, all's quiet on the FiOS TV front. 'Til next week, stay classy, planet Earth.

Read - Store in Yonkers
Read - Washington, D.C. expansion

To no one's surprise, activity was extremely light on the FiOS TV expansion front this week. With Christmas Day falling on Thursday, Verizon only found time to announce that two more New York communities are one step closer to having access. The town of Carmel and the village of Hewlett Harbor have both granted video franchises to the carrier, which should mean that access will be available in short order. We also heard that Troutdale, Oregon approved a video franchise from the operator earlier this week, but outside of that, all's quiet on the FiOS TV front. Call it a hunch, but we don't expect next week to be much more eventful.

Admit it, south Manhattan -- you felt totally snubbed by Time Warner Cable's recent announcement that your brethren to the north would soon be getting a whole wheelbarrow full of new high-def content. Thankfully, the suits at TWC have realized that south-siders need clarity too, and it's planning to launch a significant amount of fresh HD channels in February. We can't even begin to cover the full list here, so we'll post it up word for word after the break. We know what you're thinking: February?! [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

TWC made good on a big promise to update the Big Apple's high-def lineup back in April, and now it's hitting the City up with a second wave that's about half as awesome. Reportedly, the carrier has snuck in over a dozen HD channels to the Northern Manhattan system, while a tipster in Brooklyn found that Crime and Investigation HD, TV One HD, G4HD, CNBC HD, USA HD, SciFi HD , Bravo HD, E! HD and QVC HD were all available as of this weekend. At the rate cable carrier's are adding HD channels this holiday season, don't be surprised to get a NYC-sized bundle yourself. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family

[Thanks, John]

There doesn't appear to be a set time line in place, but TV One is expected to launch an HD simulcast of its SD network soon on several Comcast / Time Warner Cable systems. The channel, which is a self-proclaimed "entertainment television network for African Americans," will first hit TWC's NYC region and Comcast systems in Boston, Chicago, Portland, OR and Seattle. We're told that more regions should find the HD iteration of the channel beginning in early January 2009, and at least initially, some 20% of the content will be shot and aired in high-def; if all goes well, that figure should rise to 40% by 2010.

We know the holidays are just around the bend, but the installers at Verizon aren't taking an early leave. This week, more Southern California homes and businesses were gifted with FiOS TV, particularly in areas of Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Over on the right coast, residents in Blasdell, Kenmore and Lackawanna (New York) are joining the FiOS TV crowd, while prospective buyers in Staten Island now have a retail outlet to visit. Moving on, locals in Chester, Pennsylvania should see the service launch later this month, while subscribers in Portland, Oregon now have access to 102 HD channels. Finally, the Washington, D.C. council has unanimously approved, with one abstention, legislation authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-based programming service to District residents. Somehow, we get the idea this won't get through without a fight from one particularly angry cable carrier. Like we said, busy week.

Read - California expansion
Read - New York expansion
Read - Staten Island store
Read - Pennsylvania expansion
Read - Portland, Oregon HD channel expansion
Read - Washington, D.C. expansion

RCN has stuck its nose (and HDTV services, for that matter) in all sorts of lodging chains before, and you can mark it down for another thanks to a revamped agreement with Highgate Hotels. The multi-year contract enables RCN to provide the company's New York portfolio of hotels with its own digital TV / HDTV services sans a set-top-box; additionally, the carrier will be delivering third-party VOD content. At first, the operator will upgrade existing service to the DoubleTree Metropolitan, Radisson Lexington and Park Central Hotels, and it expects to have all five phase-one Highgate properties operational by February 2009.

As proud members of the internet generation, we here at Engadget HD will never quite understand the desire to waste bandwidth on a channel like QVC HD, but we suppose the seniors are more apt to buy things they can actually see, right? Rambling aside, the point here is to inform you that six new high-def channels have dropped in Albany, just a month (and change) after Time Warner Cable announced that the region was now offering over 100 HD and On Demand options. The newcomers include FX HD (1829), Cartoon Network HD (1832), SPEED HD (1877), NY1 HD (1859), Golf HD (1865) and the infamous QVC HD (1822). We know which one you're tuning to first.

[Thanks, Bradley]

After a light week a week ago, Verizon has taken it pretty easy the past seven days too with just a handful of new FiOS TV expansions. Kicking things off are video franchise approvals in Danvers, Massachusetts and Lackawanna / Atlantic Beach, New York. Next, we're reassured that everyone's working as hard as possible to bring the fiber-based programming service to the City of Brotherly Love. Keep at it, folks -- we'll see you here next week. Same time (roughly), same place (definitely).

Read - Massachusetts expansion
Read - New York expansion
Read - Philadelphia expansion

For those who've found themselves strolling through Times Square the past few days, you've probably seen the absolutely impossible-to-miss LED display board that was just recently lit up. The folks over at DailyDOOH were able to go check out the official launch, and it also did us the favor of hosting up a few pictures and providing all the juicy details behind the monolithic board. It sits 15 feet off of the ground and rises some 340 feet into the air, and within the sign are 13 interconnected plasma screens showing off coordinated content. Check the read link for even more amazing specs / images.

It's been a slow week for FiOS TV expansions, but we suppose the hard-working individuals responsible for 233,000 new net customers in Q3 deserve a little rest and relaxation before getting back to the grind. Up first we have the Tampa Bay, Florida area getting gifted with a new wave of interactive features on their DVRs. Next, we see three more Trump (yes, that Trump) Properties receiving FiOS TV and high-speed internet services, and if you're curious as to which ones we're referring to, they are: Trump Parc, Trump Parc East and 610 Park Avenue. Lastly, we're notified that Verizon and the City of Brotherly Love (or Philadelphia, if you prefer) are working together to grant the carrier a cable franchise; if passed, Verizon would work to deploy its fiber-based network throughout the region over seven years. That's it for this week, so we'll see you back again in seven days for (hopefully) even more.

Read - Tampa Bay
Read - Trump Properties
Read - Philadelphia

With FiOS HD hittin' hot and heavy in the Big Apple, TWC is making moves to ensure that it stays at least competitive with Verizon. The latest channel update for three of the five NYC boroughs includes updates for Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, with Northern Manhattan getting a special helping. There are far too many additions to cover in this space, so we'll point you to the full notice hosted just after the break. Sorry, south-siders, maybe next time. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Back in April, we wondered when New York's WNYW would finally follow suit and take its local newscasts to high-def. As of this week, the Big Apple's FOX affiliate is finally broadcasting its local news in glistening HD. As tipster Rich so elequotely put it: "There's nothing like seeing how bad a night your favorite news anchor had when tuning in at 5:00AM." Burn.

[Image courtesy of Broadcast Engineering, thanks Rich]

Not only did Verizon pick up nearly a quarter-million new FiOS TV subscribers in Q3, but it's looking to make sure even more Americans have an opportunity to join in during Q4. This week, the carrier has received approval to light up its fiber-based TV service in several more New York communities -- Port Washington North in Nassau County, the Town of Fishkill / City of Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County, Schuylerville, Throgs Neck and Edgewater Park in the Bronx, and Sheepshead Bay and Gerritsen Beach in Brooklyn. Additionally, it added in 53 new HD channels in Richmond / Hampton Roads, VA, 10 more in Harrisburg, PA and 16 in Rhode Island. We'll see you next week -- here's to hoping your neck of the woods gets covered within the next seven days.

Read - New York expansion I
Read - New York expansion II
Read - Hampton Roads, VA additions
Read - Richmond, VA additions
Read - Harrisburg, PA additions
Read - Rhode Island additions

The HD party never stops for long in Albany, and just 1.5 short months since the last installment comes five more high-def stations to gawk at. Effective immediately, locals can tune into Bio HD (1826), Toon Disney HD (1831), MGM HD (1852), Hallmark Movie Channel HD (1861) and Tennis Channel HD (1868). With these additions factored in, the carrier now has over 100 HD and On Demand offerings in the Empire State's capital city, which ain't too shabby no matter how you slice it.

[Via AlbanyHDTV]