I used to work in tech support, and I would say on the face of it, I would have to go with Verizon. There should be no possibility that a dvr or other device could damage a tv - the voltages are very low, in the millivolts really.

However, I guess it's possible if there's some sort of line fault or a fault in the dvr that's putting voltage into the 'line output' however, it's very rare. I do recall one instance but it was several hundred volts, and probably due to some line fault outside, or some botched attempt at stealing cable and/or electricity.

Most of the time 'voltage' is detected on the line, it's from the tv itself.

First thing for you to check is the outlet. Try plugging something else in there and see if it works ok. Try the tv in another outlet, and see if there's some other device you can connect it to, perhaps a vcr or just an aerial?

The fact that the tv is turning itself off - lights out, you have to turn it back on? suggests something odd, all right, I would test it like I said, if you have another tv test it in its place.

I guess also check the power cords etc for the tv and ensure the power outlet's ok, toggle breaker on/off, test power like I said, and make sure the contacts in the outlet are engaging the plug.

Like I said, I never say never, but normally, I would not think the situation could be caused by something plugging into the tv. Sounds like a fault was showing when text wasn't displaying well, and it go worse overnight.

Unless the tv was dropped or something, it may have been a coincidence. Have you had any thunderstorms? Another question, has the tv been off for quite a while whilst you were waiting for the install?

Electronics sitting idle for extended periods sometimes don't come back on.

Thanks you so much for posting and giving me your advice. I'll try plugging the TV into another outlet and hooking it up to antenna or DVD player and report back.

To answer some of your questions:

The TV was originally (and still is) plugged into a power strip (the same one as the DVR).

Yes, something is definitely suddenly odd with the TV. It automatically shuts itself off after about 10 seconds (and displays just the strange light grey and striped screen). Another oddity is that if the TV is off and I push any of the buttons on the front (volume up/down, channel up/down, power, or menu) the TV turns on in this strange way and then shuts down. Pushing these buttons previously wouldn't have done anything if the TV was off.

The problem with the text displaying with the wave was due to the DVR, not the TV. The technician hooked a 2nd TV up to the DVR and it had the same problem (and it was fine when it was hooked to a regular set top box).

The TV was not dropped or anything (it wasn't even removed from the armoire, just pulled out from the wall).

No thunderstorms.

We've used this TV every day since we bought it, so it hasn't been sitting around idle.

I am just so bummed about this, and really wasn't anticipating that upgrading to FIOS would result in me having to buy a new TV.

Thanks again.

We just moved the TV to another room and plugged it in there -- same problem. I guess it is dead.

There might be a very remote chance there is a rest button on the back of the tv somewhere. Sometimes its a red stem that sticks out, sometimes its a button.

Couldn't hurt. I would also google the symptoms and the model number, and see if anyone else reports the issue.

By trying a different outlet you've exonerated the power strip, I should have asked if you had one. They go bad sometimes.

Like I say, fantastic coincidence, unless there's significant voltage coming up the cable line.

Another possibility is if you were using channels on tv before, and a/v now, although the behaviour you're describing is just a sick tv. A reset wouldn't hurt.

You could get a technician to look at it, could be a simple fix. However, cheap HD plasmas et al are all around, I hear the siren call myself, and I'm not working fulltime at the moment, and we have a HUGE Hitachi tv we bought from my wife's school for $20.