Outdoor channel removed

[Route661]

First The Weather Channel was replaced by the inferior Accuweather and now The Outdoor Channel has been removed.

It seems VZ is trying to drive customers away.

We need both channels restored.

[solamente73]

I was watching the Outdoor Channel tonight and then...

I get the white screen saying that it's no longer available.

First The Weather Channel, then the Sportsman Channel... now this.  Literally removing 30% of what I watch on FiOS.  Why should I stay?  What will you take away next that you will replace with shomething I would never watch?  And  your competitors even offer in HD that which you do not. 

Switching costs be damned.  I'm leaving Verizon.  And I'm taking my company's business with me, too.  Verizon, consider this my notice.  It's been a good 10 years.  You went from ground breaking product to a severe hassle for everyone.  Adios.

[LickittySplitz]

This is not ok with me. The Sportsman Channel and now the Outdoor Channel?? Other than sports and HBO, these are the only channels I watch. The email from Verzion says we can find similar programming on "History Channel (channel 128 & 628), Destination America (channel 168 & 668), Nat Geo Wild (channel 132 & 632) and the Discovery Channel, (channel 120 & 620)"; not even close. That comment is so far from the truth. It's my opinion that Verizon just choose the anti-hunting side of the coin.

Going to be canceling my TV service and subscribing through an internet based provider. Sadly, I'll have to keep them as my ISP. I need the Internet.

Very disappointed in Verizon, as I was paying for this "sports" package BECAUSE of these two channels. Like I really want the Cricket Channel.

[NJSports]

That is so funny.  My husband said the same thing about the Cricket Channel.  We wondered how Cost Effective that channel is.  We are not buying Verizon's reasoning for dropping the Outdoor Channel.

We pay extra, as well, for these channels in a Sports Package.  If Verizon was so concerned that the "cost of content is increasing" and "in order to prevent those costs being reflected in your bill" along with "it is necessary to remove channels from our lineup"   Then they could have simply charged more for the Package. 

This Verizon statement is the one they send out to all customers.  They just tailored it.  It was like saying You can't have chocolate on your ice cream because it's too expensive for everyone.  But We'll pay for the chocolate.  We don't want you to.  And, We're not going to offer it.   

[ppstap1]

Just lost Outdoor Channel here in the NYC market too (yes, we love the Outdoor Channel in NYC just like the rest of the country).  Add me to the list of first time posters who are fed up with this latest move by Verizon.  I may soon be making a programming change of my own…to another content provider. 

The cost vs viewership reasoning doesn’t seem to hold water.  Hopefully Verizon isn’t deciding what programming is "appropriate" for their viewers.  I’m not sure what the channel lineup looks like in other communities, but here in NYC a quick scan of the available PPV offerings doesn’t exactly position Verizon on the moral high ground to be making such calls.  Verizon, please find a way to provide all types of programming and let your customers decide what is right for them.  If you truly need to charge more for it, then so be it. 

[solamente73]

Public Service Announcement:

The parent company for the Sportsman and Outdoor Channels has set up a microsite to help us find new providers that carry these channels.

Here is the link:  http://www.keepmyoutdoortv.com/

If you go to that page, you can enter your zip code and they will tell you what TV providers serve that area and still carry these channels.

[buddye1]

Let me join the discouraged outdoorsmen who are unhappy with Fios for dropping the Outdoor and Sportsman channels.  I have been a subscriber for 10 years and this is Verizon's biggest rip off  yet.  How can they drop popular programming due

to alleged cost increases when my my bill goes up almost every month.    

                                                                                                                                                                                                    Also, WFN is part of the Outdoor Group and it is still in the lineup.  We were given two soccer channels as replacement programming.

I have a notion that the firearm and hunting content did not fit into Verizon's political mindset.   Anyone agree?

Please have someone in authority respond to each subscriber who feel they have been cheated. 

[Eddieclyde]

This completely sucks. My family used to watch the Weather Channel and I watched both the Sportsmans Channel ( until I had to pay extra ) and the Outdoors Channel. We pay almost $300 a month and now we get second rate tv service. Time to explore our options.

[Kylegoltsch1]

First we lost the Sportsmans Channel and now the Outdoor Channel.  These are two of maybe 5 channels that I watch.  I wonder if I can break my conract with them now, since they no longer provide the service that I signed up for.  

[rafulw]

I got a 4.99 month credit for 12 months. I said I do not watch sports except these 2 channels and I am paying a sports network fee of 4.99. Of xourse opting out of the preferred bundle and adding everthing else but sports would cost more?

I am most unhappy

[irshmn66]

Outdoor channel and Sportsman channel gone, BUT we have some less than appealing ones to choose from. I think it time to look around!!!!!!!

[phishbum]

This is the first time I've ever logged onto the "community" and it's soley to express my displeasure at Outdoor Channel being removed. As someone else said, the alternatives listed indicate that Verizon knows nothing about the Outdoor Channel programming or the type of customer that watches it. I won't speculate as to what drove this decision, but will say I spent the morning researching alternatives and will be cancelling my service. I spend WAY too much money for such a subpar lineup.

Edit: As of this post, 62.5% of the posters are from first timers like me. This tells me people are fired up enough to be looking for answers.

[rafulw]

unfortunatly, I had comcast, not going back soon, I don't want a dish.

Verzon must be convinced to put theswe back NOW (probably dont happening anytime soon)

How about Sport'man/Outdoor offering free streaming via internet

[reedap1]

 This decision put me over the top...Long time Verizon customer and first time poster now here too.  The removal of the Outdoor Channel as well as the Sportsman's Channel and the Weather Channel is the last straw.  I will be looking for an alternative regardless of the cost to change. Verizon you are failing to listen to the customer.  There are 130 million people in the US who participate in some type of outdoor sports.  To imply that I can find the same content as show on the Outdoor and Sportsman's Channel on National Geographic, History or others tells me you have no clue about your audience. Where was your VOC study to determine if these channel should be kept even if it meant a price increase to consumers?  You drop all outdoor programming yet add multiple Spanish/Latin channels with a much smaller customer base.  You may wonder why there is a strong growth in Web streaming and other technologies to see the content that consumers want while you look at your lineup strictly from a cost basis.  You are losing customers with decisions like this.  Goodbye.

Paul

[es24]

I too am first time posting.  Recently renewed 2 year contract paying extra for Sports Package only to have the Outdoor and Sportsman's channels abruptly cancelled.  Paying extra specifically for something that no longer exists is plain WRONG!

Maybe cable needs to be government regulated and monitored.  I am one extremely dissatisfied customer.  But as other bloggers have stated Verizon is not paying attention to their customer base who pays their salaries!

signed,

very disgusted with Verizon

[Proxima77]

Verizon needs to bring both Outdoor Channel and Sportsmans Channel back.  What type of nonsense are they pushing when they recommend other channels that don't air the same content and shows as similar?  I can only guess that Verizon is anti-outdoorsmans and only supports air-headed tree-hugging hippies who have no idea what the outdoors and conservation truly are.  A few years ago, I actually moved up to a more expensive package lineup just because of Outdoor Channel and Sportsmans Channel.  Without these two channels, I see no point in keeping the more expensive package.  If Verizon does not bring both channels back, I will reduce my package and switch to a provider that carries both channels when my contract expires.  As much as Comcast has a bad rep here in Maryland and I switched to FIOS when it became available, I will consider switching back to them just because they still carry Outdoor Channel and Sportsmans Channel.

Verizon, if you are listening, bring back Outdoor Channel and Sportsmans Channel.  I was a happy customer of yours until you dropped the channels I watch the most.  Bring them back.

Sincerely,

One Upset Verizon Customer

[Proxima77]

I just checked Verizon's lineup and they still offer Al Jazeera America.  So, they drop two channels that are truly American and keep a Middle Eastern, anti-American propaganda "news" network that no one watches?  What kind of crock PC nonsense is that?

[CRobGauth]

We don't have the viewership vs cost numbers.

Verizon cited low viewership for dropping Sportsman channel back in September.

Maybe Outdoor and Sportsman channels cost a lot more per viewer than Al Jazeera (Dish offers Outdoor, Sportsman, Mav and World Fishing for $4/mopnth)

In the end it is a business.

Providers have to make decisions of content vs viewership vs cost.

They make a value judgement and then decide which channels to provide.

There will always be a preponderance of postings from people that miss a channel that has been removed.

I for one never watched so won't miss.

I am sure you can say the same for channels I like to watch.

In the end, we all have to make decisions based on what you can get for your dollar.

[Bravajo]

I AM INCENSED. I am 6 months into a new contract lockin and Verizon removes my two favorite channels and arguably the ones I spend 80% of my viewing time watching.

I am going to call and cancel and demand to terminate the contract due to a change of terms on their behalf. 

[CRobGauth]

Sorry, but the contract allows the to add and delete channels as necessary (pretty standard among cable providers)

[electricstart]

Please bring back the outdoor and sportsman channels . The weather channel would be nice to for safety reasons ,got us through hurricane Sandy with very few lives lost . Accuweather stinks . I was a fios customer from the start ,one reason was these channels you offered (Outdoor,sportsman ,weather ). I have all your service wireless, internet ,phone your top TV plan . I always was your number fan when ever any one asked and there was a lot( thousands probably ) through the years who was your cable provider I was proud to say Verizon . I have cable companies stopping by my house ,calliing tring to get me to switch and I always tell them never very happy with Verizon fios . They are even willing to pay off my contract ,6 months free , save me big money every month and I still say No I am very happy with Fios . Wont even let them talk . This is how you pay me back by removing my favorite channels ,when I call customer service and even your corporate office you blow me off . What happened to good paying customers comes first ,never missed a payment always way in advance .  You have two months to bring back my favorite channels or I will be switching providers ,very un happy customer .Please Verizon do the right thing support your loyal customers bring back our channels .