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Will the Extreme plan get cheaper because of the channels that are being taken away?

I see that I'm losing a whole bunch of channels that I regularly watch on the Fios Extreme package and would have to pay $15 a month more to keep them. Since I can't really afford that I'm wondering if the positive result of this will be that the pricing for my Extreme package will go down now since I'll be paying more money for less channels?

Also are you going to be taking away other channels from the Extreme package soon and moving them to the Ultimate package as well?

Thanks for any information you can give me.

Comments

chinorider

Isn't it wonderful how Verizon FIOS is rewarding it's loyal customers by eliminating programming that was agreed upon years ago. They can bust the contract whenever they want but if a customer wants to change anything it is like you declared war against them.....

Now where did I put that ATT number ??

**bleep** off in Chino Hills

@mesostinky2 wrote:
I see that I'm losing a whole bunch of channels that I regularly watch on the Fios Extreme package and would have to pay $15 a month more to keep them. Since I can't really afford that I'm wondering if the positive result of this will be that the pricing for my Extreme package will go down now since I'll be paying more money for less channels?
Also are you going to be taking away other channels from the Extreme package soon and moving them to the Ultimate package as well?
Thanks for any information you can give me.

Caps09

The changes, however silly they might seem, probably come from the wholesale cost of different channels. You can keep the channels you have as long as you don't change or commit to "new" packages, but you will have to pay what is considered the regular price.

Such is life in the world of mutichannel video. We demand every channel, but then we're outraged when the price goes up or some channels go away.

misterjoey

I am angry that this overpriced FIOS service is yet again moving more channels to higher tiered price packages and also removing some premium content attached with premium pricing. I ordered Korean language programming for my parents. They already had a poor Korean lineup from the beginning with only 4 channels, while DirecTV had 8. The cost was already overpriced at 25 dollars extra per month and they recently removed two of the channels without changing the price. This is a rip off as DirecTV offers 8 channels in this package for the same price. Honestly, I am very disappointed with FIOS service. You are really paying more for less with Verizon. TV quality looks the same to the human eye over fiber cables or through the air with a dish. The phone service is overpriced, with a Verizon expensive long distance plan required to get "promotional rates" that are still very high compared to the competition. The internet, although provided more bandwidth, isn't that much noticeable faster. I couldn't really tell the difference with 10Mbps cable and the 25Mbps service I have now. Basically overpriced service. Why am I still with them? They won't let me get out of the contract, even though they changed the premium programming on me. They just suggested I drop the package. What kind of customer satisfaction is that? I used to admire Verizon on the wireless side for their outstanding service and customer service, but FIOS is a joke. It's not all that it's cracked up to be.

P.S. They charge outrageous rental fees for each box! 20 bucks a month for HDDVR?! and I still don't get most of the HD channels they offer. RIP OFF.

Customers need to write and call in to complain to make notice of this customer abuse.

film111

@Caps09 wrote:
. We demand every channel, but then we're outraged when the price goes up or some channels go away.

Very true. Something I hope the people who are demanding FSC-HD understand.

Keyboards

@Caps09 wrote:
Such is life in the world of mutichannel video. We demand every channel, but then we're outraged when the price goes up or some channels go away.
Well, actually they are apparently doing both. I got a snail mail notice that my old extreme was going up $10 (contract expired). I don't mind that so much, but if they take away channels as well then that's a double whammy and I won't be a happy camper

njsurfer

I have to wonder if I signed up for a bundle price that includes X channels and they are now removing some of them then I would expect my price to drop, get additional channels in place of, or the ETF is no longer in play as they broke the agreed on contract. Smiley Mad

spacedebris

no, the price is not changing. The packages that are affected are the 2009 version of the extreme package, and the now defunct Premier and Essentials packages.

spacedebris

@misterjoey wrote:
I am angry that this overpriced FIOS service is yet again moving more channels to higher tiered price packages and also removing some premium content attached with premium pricing. I ordered Korean language programming for my parents. They already had a poor Korean lineup from the beginning with only 4 channels, while DirecTV had 8. The cost was already overpriced at 25 dollars extra per month and they recently removed two of the channels without changing the price. This is a rip off as DirecTV offers 8 channels in this package for the same price. Honestly, I am very disappointed with FIOS service. You are really paying more for less with Verizon. TV quality looks the same to the human eye over fiber cables or through the air with a dish. The phone service is overpriced, with a Verizon expensive long distance plan required to get "promotional rates" that are still very high compared to the competition. The internet, although provided more bandwidth, isn't that much noticeable faster. I couldn't really tell the difference with 10Mbps cable and the 25Mbps service I have now. Basically overpriced service. Why am I still with them? They won't let me get out of the contract, even though they changed the premium programming on me. They just suggested I drop the package. What kind of customer satisfaction is that? I used to admire Verizon on the wireless side for their outstanding service and customer service, but FIOS is a joke. It's not all that it's cracked up to be.
P.S. They charge outrageous rental fees for each box! 20 bucks a month for HDDVR?! and I still don't get most of the HD channels they offer. RIP OFF.
Customers need to write and call in to complain to make notice of this customer abuse.

Your entire post is your opinion. not fact. If you want facts then compare all the different companies out there. Include them all and forget any short term price discounts. If you compare all of them, you will find that they all differ in content a little, but the basic prices all all the same. Once you add in all the hidden costs and fee's. There is no such thing as "the other company is cheaper". That is all just hype. And you fell for it. Yes some companies have more channels in a certain category or two, and yes, if you take advantage of a "special" that is being run, you can get short term lower costs, but at a cost of their own in terms of...Long contracts, higher rates when the special expires, hidden fees for otherwise included services, etc.

As for picture quality, something is wrong if you cant see the difference between a Satelite picture vs a Fios pic. I personally have both Directv and Fios. There is a huge difference in pic quality. Fios is only $3.64 per month more than my DTV with essentially the same programming on both.

Yes it is frustraiting to have channels pulled out on you. But this happens all the time on all carriers. Verizon is just pulling a lot of them all at once, whereas DTV pulled out roughly the same number of channels this last year, but did them one at a time spread out so it didnt look so bad. This is nothing new.

So while you dont like what happened and you feel outraged, dont lump us all together. I'm VERY happy with Fios and the prices are excellent. I've used 4 different companies over the last 10 years or so and the Verizon FIOS is by far the best. Do they have problems? Yes of course, all companies have problem. Have I been ticked off at Verizon? Again, Yes of course, I've had issues with every company I've ever had. But right now, as it stands, Verizon has been the best of the bunch so far. And the only reason I still have DTV is because fios isnt available at house #2 yet (plus, I just have to have the NFL package during football season)

prisaz

It my help to read one thread instead of creating another. There has been discussion here, and I hope to have it clarified by Verizon shortly. Yes they have moved a few channels to a higher tier. But it only effects you if your bundle expires or plan changes because you are month to month with no commitment. Look here for updates. I do not like the new bundle choices and have also voiced my opinion. HD should be HD and the existing HD should not be shoved into a bundle to suck you into a movie package. My 2c.

http://forums.verizon.com/t5/FiOS-TV-Programming/Moving-channels-to-more-expensive-tiers/m-p/172807#U172807

prisaz

@Caps09 wrote:
The changes, however silly they might seem, probably come from the wholesale cost of different channels. You can keep the channels you have as long as you don't change or commit to "new" packages, but you will have to pay what is considered the regular price.
Such is life in the world of mutichannel video. We demand every channel, but then we're outraged when the price goes up or some channels go away.

I agree with you, but placing the HD we had, into another package to suck us into a package with premium movie channels we do not need or want, is just not fair. Raise the price $5 if you must but not $20 to get us into the premium movie area to make more profit on channels we do not want! HD should be HD and Premiums should be Premiums! I know one cocky director that I would like to really yak at! But he does not even participate in his own blogs. Why does he not just post look how great I am for Verizon and their profit!

prisaz

@spacedebris wrote:
no, the price is not changing. The packages that are affected are the 2009 version of the extreme package, and the now defunct Premier and Essentials packages.

You call a $109 bundle with Extreme moving to a $124 bundle that is less Extreme no price increase? OK it is a $5 increase in price with slightly faster upload, but take channels away and give me upload speed of 25/25. I think we should have a choice. Give options to compete, not bundles that you can say are better, and existing customer do not like. Who is running marketing anyway.Yes fast both ways is better than cable, but don't PlSS off existing customers to prove a point! I am happy with my 20/5 and my existing lineup. I should have a choice. I do have one. Stay or go and they don't care. Of course they know I will stay, and that is why it's done.

Those of us that were here at launch remember I believe a term A La Carte. It never really took off because when bundles took off they could give better pricing, the choices started going away. We still have choices but only the ones that are offered. Create your own bundle, have not seen that work, except for creating which service you want instead of what levels. Like can you have Ultimate with 15/5? or 35/35 with Extreme? Not in a bundle.

Rhodyman

Fios is not perfect but it blows away DirecTV and Cox (I've had both)!!! The Triple Play price is actually better than Cox's bundle deal and offers so much more. I was paying $110/mo. for D* alone, my latest Fios bill was $144 and included all 3 services. No contest.

prisaz

@Rhodyman wrote:
Fios is not perfect but it blows away DirecTV and Cox (I've had both)!!! The Triple Play price is actually better than Cox's bundle deal and offers so much more. I was paying $110/mo. for D* alone, my latest Fios bill was $144 and included all 3 services. No contest.

I agree with you about price. I was in the same boat. But I may switch to DTV and internet only just because of the new marketing practices for the bundles. I have a custom 1 meter dish that does fairly well against rain fade. It and all coax has been parallel FIOS for 5 years. It may become live soon. (edit)

spacedebris

OK, so I should have said it wont go down.

Mr_Upset

First off I would like to say this is just my opinion. Verizon like a lot of big company's have chosen to take the path of give less and charge more. This to me sucks as the customer however as a small business owner I can understand. What I do not agree with is Verizon acting like there not. What choice do you have all TV providers mistreat there customers. Because there are not enough people to stand up and say no more nothing will change. Honestly I don't know if any one else feel like HDTV is one ripoff after another. First you have to upgrade your TV which could be very expensive. Then come all the extra cost for cable box service packages and on demand. And now they try and force more money out of us. But if this isn't bad enough HD is the standard as mandated by the U.S. government. So tell me why HDTV and not SDTV in-cures the extra costs. Why do we keep having to pay more for HD channels when HDTV is no longer a new technology. I cant speak for anyone else but if Fios stays on this path I will simply take my money else were.

Caps09

@Mr_Upset wrote:
Why do we keep having to pay more for HD channels when HDTV is no longer a new technology.

Because most programmers are charging extra for Verizon to carry the HD version of their channels. The programmers also demand that their channels are included in certain packages that will get the most subscibers. The customers (yes, us) demand that Verizon carries different channels (have you seen the thread for Fox Soccer Channel?), so like it or not, right or wrong, we all end up paying for new channels. Every time a new HD channel is launched, there's a certain segment of subscribers that demand it.

Some of you may say that channels should be sold to us individually. While that sounds nice for some of us who may watch two or three channels, think about this- Channel "x" now has 7 million subscribers paying $1 a month through wholesale costs. With a la carte, this same channel will now have maybe 100,000 subscribers if it's an average rated cable channel. In order for that programmer to make the same profit and be able to produce the content at the same cost level, those 100,000 people will have to pay $70 a month for that one channel. Just a thought. Maybe a cheaper or higher rated channel would only cost $35 or $40 a month.

spacedebris

Caps09, you are exactly right. What most people dont understand is that the channels carried by Verizon charges Verizon to carry it. (with very few exceptions). Therefor Verizon groups those channels in such a way as to maintain a profit margin. When channels start charging Verizon more to carry it, they move it to one of the higher plans to maintain the profit. Just look at the recent fight with fox and time warner. Fox wanted more money, time warner didnt want to pay. Fox nearly pulled their channel from time warner. Now in that case it was resolved publicly, which is why I think Fox was willing to negotiate. But in most cases these negotiations are held in private, the pubic doesnt know about it so there is no public opinion affecting the outcome, and why we never see it. once those negotiations are done, then the company in question (Verizon in this case) then re-oganizes their channel lineups and packages to put higher cost channels on the upper levels.

Now in this case, the only people affected are the people on older plans, none of the current plans are affected by the channel changes. The older plans no longer reflect a profitable system for Verizon and they are moving the channels to make it profitable again.

from a customer standpoint, this sucks. But from a business standpoint, it is just good business. As much as they would like to keep customers happy, the bottom line is profit, and that is the only reason they are there in the first place, to make money. Fine ballancing act.

They offer the faster speeds on internet because for all intents and purposes, faster internet doenst cost them anything but gives the customer more bang for the buck. They have to charge more for the video so they give more on the data and try to ballance it out. Good or bad, thats the way it works

Celt1997

I've been following the various threads about losing channels if you change your bundle. Currently I'm grandfathered in under the 2009 Extreme package, but I was going to drop our a la carte "movie" package (Starz, Sho, etc.). If I just drop that add-on package, am I going to be forced to change my bundle at that time? Or, as long as I don't change my "base" package, should I be fine?

spacedebris

Ok, in your case. Since you are on the 2009 Extreme plan, you will be loosing those channels if you do not upgrade. You do not have to change packages to drop the movie package. they will leave you on the 2009 Xtreme package, and you will loose those channels. The only way to keep those channels, is to change packages.

the 2010 packages will not be loosing any channels and are unaffected.

Here is a quote from the notice sent to my tech support buddy.

Quote:
8 Channels will be migrating out of the Premier/Essentials package -
CNBC World
ESPN Classic Sports
Sleuth
Gospel Music Channel
MUN2
Si TV
ESPN Desportes
Galavision
These channels will continue to be available in the 2010 Extreme HD package
Customers who subscribe to the Spanish Language Pack will continue to receive MUN2, Si TV, ESPN Desportes and Galavision
10 channels will be migrating out of the 2009 version of the Extreme HD package -
Hallmark Movie Channel
RFD TV
MGM HD
World Fishing Network
Cars.TV
Comedy.TV
ES.TV
My Destination.TV
Pets.TV
Recipe.TV
These channels will continue to be available in the 2010 Ultimate HD Package

Caps09

When will they disappear? So far, I still have all of them with the 2009 Extreme package. I figured everything I have will stay unless I change packages, even after my contract expires and the price goes up. On the other hand, will the channels be removed only after the contract expires?

To answer another post above, I read elsewhere on this board that you can change your movie channels around without affecting the bundle you have. Just make sure the channels you change are listed extra on your bill and not included in the bundle.

Justin46

@Caps09 wrote:
When will they disappear?

Here is the text from the email notice I received (emphasis added):

FiOS TV 2010 UPDATE: CHANNEL LINEUP CHANGES
FiOS TV Customer,
From time to time channel lineup changes are necessary to improve our content offerings.
We will therefore, be making some changes to our current TV service packages on or after
April 29, 2010. However, if you have recently changed to one of our new 2010 TV Packages
on or after January 17th, 2010, you can disregard this notice.

Please select the following link to review these package changes.
Channel lineup changes
Thank you for choosing Verizon as your entertainment provider.
Sincerely,
Verizon Online

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416-P1, IMG 1.7C, Build 09.83
Keller, TX 76248

wvjbl2

I got a letter from Verizon this week that my current promotional pricing is expiring, however, I can take advantage of new FiOS bundles for an even greater value.

So, I took a look into the bundles. Here is what I've run into so far.

The letter they mailed indicates my agreement is until 5/2010, but in my online account it says it is until 10/2009.

Letter shows a Good, Better, Best bundles.

On the online main bundles page, it shows a Triple Play bundle ‘Best Value’, which corresponds to the ‘Good’ bundle in the letter. Clicking on the ‘Learn more’ button, it shows only the information for this bundle, not for the higher bundles (the ones called Better, Best bundles in the letter)

Online, under ‘Fios TV / Plans’, it shows a Prime HD, Extreme HD, and Ultimate HD TV Plans, with the corresponding triple play bundles to the right.

For the bottom plan (Prime HD, 15/5), the online indicates the regular price is $109.99 a month, the letter also shows $109.99. So these match.

For the middle plan (Extreme HD, 25/25), the online shows $124.99, the letter shows $119.99. Online does not mention Showtime, TMC, FLIX. Letter says these are included.

For the top plan (Ultimate HD, 35/35), online shows $139.99, letter shows $149.99. Online says over 385 digital ad 90+ HD channels, letter says 475+ digital and 125+ HD channels. Online says it includes Showtime, TMC, FLIX. Letter says it includes these plus HBO, Cinemax, and EPIX.

Looking at the channel lineup for my area, it shows that EPIX is not included in any plan, but the letter says it is included in the ‘Best’ plan.

Looking at the channel lineup, apparently Starz and Encore are not included in any of the bundles/plans, but it is not apparent how they could be ordered or added to a plan from the online. Under the online ‘Premium Channels’ page, it shows a Movie Package that includes these two, as well as Showtime, TMC, FLIX, IFC and Sundance. However, those others are already included in ‘Best’ or Ultimate HD.

Verizon - please clean up your act with this information in your web page, and what you send in letters to customers. Until then, I'll pass on the bundles...

Caps09

I agree. After I saw an another thread that I would be losing a few channels in another month of so, I was curious enough to check out some prices. The main website said that Ultimate HD was $119.99. When I clicked on "change bundle" under my account, it suggested Ultimate HD plus Epix for something like $134.99. Ultimate HD includes some channels that are in the "movies" group, but if I wanted the rest of the movie channels, I would have to pay for the entire group of channels even though I would already be getting a few of them in my bundle. I currently have the HBO and movies, which doesn't exist if you want to order it new.

I'm so puzzled by the new bundles. While I like to have more channels, I can simply do without the few that are slated to disappear.

Mikab61

Great, So you are removing TV and Movie channels from our package. So what kind of big discount or new programs are you going to give us to replace our programs so we are not getting riped off??? Are you going to repackage all our prgrams and charge us more for each now? Satellite is looking better and better.

spacedebris

from the looks of your post, it looks like you are trying to get a message to Verizon. What you should be made aware of is that this is not a "Verizon" board. This is a user to user board for Verizon customers. Your complaints would better be addressed to CS 1-800-688-2880 or use the chat system to contact them http://www22.verizon.com/content/contactus/

Now there are some Verizon employees that visit here and try and help out but if you want "official" verizon, the above options are the way to go.

Caps09

I know it's frustrating to lose channels, but I never heard one complaint when channels were added over the last year at no extra cost. It just looks like this is an effort to recover some of the costs because there are still lots of people (like me) with Extreme HD 2009 who have their price locked in for another year or more. It had to cost money to add the channels people were demanding, like MSNBC HD, AMC HD, and the Viacom HD channels. People are still demanding Fox Soccer HD, which will probably be added soon. Regionally, MASN2 HD is rumored to on the way, and as soon as they can get it, MSG HD and MSG+ HD.

We expect Verizon to lay expensive fiber in our neighborhood, install equipment in our homes at no cost, constanly add new channels at no extra cost, then when channels are removed or the price goes up, we're outraged.

prisaz

@Caps09 wrote:
I know it's frustrating to lose channels, but I never heard one complaint when channels were added over the last year at no extra cost. It just looks like this is an effort to recover some of the costs because there are still lots of people (like me) with Extreme HD 2009 who have their price locked in for another year or more. It had to cost money to add the channels people were demanding, like MSNBC HD, AMC HD, and the Viacom HD channels. People are still demanding Fox Soccer HD, which will probably be added soon. Regionally, MASN2 HD is rumored to on the way, and as soon as they can get it, MSG HD and MSG+ HD.
We expect Verizon to lay expensive fiber in our neighborhood, install equipment in our homes at no cost, constanly add new channels at no extra cost, then when channels are removed or the price goes up, we're outraged.

Yep. I know. I agree 100% but there should be the option to keep what we have in a HD bundle without the premiums. Just raise the price ok. But don't try to force us into a premium movie bundle to keep the few channels they are moving. It could be that MGM and the others are considering themselfs as premium channels now. My fiber has been installed for more than 5 years, so if I want a new bundle and decide I can no longer afford it at some point, I must pay double the termination fee to drop part of it. I could see that for a new account that was just installed. I would not get that much of a discount as an existing customer, so what cost do they need to recover? $5 x what? I too have been holding out with the 2009 Extreme. I would like faster speed but don't need it.

Thanks for the pep talk Caps

Caps09

I would also be open to paying a few extra bucks each month to keep the ten channels. The problem is though, that people would then claim it's a "breach of contract" that Verizon is "raising the rates" on their contracts, then demanding an FCC investigation like earlier in this thread. I guess it's just easier for Verizon to remove the channels rather than sell them to us in a small group. Besides everyhthing else, the super-secret carriage ageements between Verizon and each channel will also dictate how they are sold to us now and in the future.

BenButler

I would gladly pay more for FSC in HD and FS + if they would just offer them in HD.

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