Verizon has been enticing consumers to sign up for its FiOS triple-play bundle by offering gifts, but it cannot get enough Sharp LCD high-definition televisions (HDTVs), aggravating some customers who had signed up and elected to receive the free TV.

Verizon is offering some customers a comparable Magnavox TV.

In lieu of a TV, Verizon is offering the alternative of a $200 Best Buy gift certificate. The least-expensive Sharp LCD HDTV retails for about $350.

Verizon assured those who insist on the Sharp TV that they will eventually get them, in about 10 to 15 weeks, rather than the 5 weeks promised in Verizon's ads.

More Broadband Direct:

• Comcast gears up for wideband deployment in S. Fla. 

• AT&T expanding worldwide presence 

• Ovum: Cable ops’ revenues increased in Q4 

• Secure Signals seeks ops for free beta test of GuardDog 

• Verizon hiccups fulfilling FiOS promo offer 

• AT&T’s VOD syncs up with movie review Web site 

• Rentrak signs up 10 new content provider customers 

• Yahoo buys time to fend off Microsoft 

• Broadband Briefs for 3/05/08