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Verizon dropping WUSA9 on Dec 31

Why would Verizon drop WUSA, a channel that is watched by most subscribers, because of cost but carry and pay for dozens of useless channels that almost nobody watches. Drop the low watched channels and use the funds to pay for the good channels most subscribers watch like WUSA. I will be cancelling my Verizon service, after being with them for over 15 years, regardless of the penalty, if Verizon drops WUSA. Comcast I might be coming back with a lot of other people I know who are upset about the dropping of WUSA9. Customer loyalty means nothing to Verizon only profits matter.

Comments

bn247

I am still **bleep** about losing the weather channel now my local CBS channel. Might be time to jump back to Comcast!

CRobGauth

Its the same issue that caused the Disney threat.

WUSA wants more money. Verizon has to try and keep the programming costs down to keep down the cost to us.

On WUSA website, they don't say that they haven't asked for an increase.

All they say is that they have negotiated other deals for "fair market value" for their programming.

Remember, when costs to cable companies go up, our costs go up.

Tomusa2018

How many of you are concerned that you will lose access to WUSA and CBS as of 5:pm today, December 31? That means, you won't be able to watch half of the NFL playoffs, the AFC Championship game and the Super Bowl (typically the most watched show in TV history). I think this is really a con game on the part of Verizon. Are any others concerned??

Geast26

Customer loyalty means nothing to Verizon only profits matter.

bbc956

We are so angry that you and WUSA cannot/will not come to an agreement.

First it's the weather channel. Then you threaten to take ESPN off the air. Now this.

You are all getting too greedy.

If you take this away, or raise our costs, again you will lose a long time subscriber!!!

Rock21Baby

Do not drop my favorite channel, I will have to make othe plans..

LMSWANN

As a loyal verizon subscriber I will look into finding a new subscriber if VERIZON do not maintain WUSA9. This channel is my main go to channel that I access the most. I am paying $200 a month for verizon services and now I can't access a normal channel that canusually be accessed with no cable access. Something is wrong with this picture. Once I find a new product to watch this channel, Verizon will use me as a patron. Goodbye!

TaxDawg

Did an agreement happen because it is 5:15pm EST and WUSA is still on my FiOS

TaxDawg

After I posted my last message, WUSA was taken down. I can’t watch CBS now

csvary

Awful decision by Verizon. I thought nothing would ever bring me back to Comcast, but this is it. I also had a delightful conversation with "CKM" via their Facebook option and was relegated to peon status with all of the terse responses I received. That desperate for a .003% profit margin maintenance, are we Verizon?

Jjohnson241

Yes, I'm more than concerned. In fact I'm angry. I'm a long time FIOS customer for TV, internet and phone. I pay what I consider to be a premium for those services that should include local CBS programming. I appreciate attempts to manage the cost of licensing access to programming but I do not accept the premise that increases in those costs would be passed automatically to FIOS customers particularly since I've seen Verizon discount FIOS service repeatedly in various promotional offers.

CBS programming is immensely popular during NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl. What are you thinking Verizon?

Reach an agreement or lose another long term customer.

willowcat

I have lived in the Washington, DC area all my life and since I have had cable I never have seen anything like this before. What the **** is wrong with you people, Verizon if you don't want a mass exodus then come to an agreement quickly with WUSA to continue to carry WUSA9 channels on your cable company. This is why I liked free TV before the over the air crap came to be. WUSA9 is pretty much the only channel where most of my viewing time is spent. If Verizon and WUSA9 can't come to an agreement, I will be forced to sign with another company, and it might be cheaper for me to do that.

venting101

Verizon makes over a BILLION per MONTH in profit. Very greedy and it is unacceptable to me that a "local" station will now cost as much as a premium movie channel. I'll give them a week to straighten this out or I'll go to DTV or Comcast.

Dissatisfied3

I am very dissappointed with Verizon with their decision to cancel WSUA (CBS affilitate in the D.C. area). Verizons is a multi-billion dollar corporation with plenty of resources to be able to strike a deal. I spoke with a Verizon representative and asked if my premium will be reduced. He indicated that "because Verizon values me as a customer," they will give me a one-time $5.99 discount. Coincidentally, that's what an App to stream CBS costs per month. So, Verizon will save the money that was paying CBS (or its parent company) and will not pass that savings to its customer. So unfair. I will switch to another cable provider as soon as I can.

2golftoday1

Our contract is up next April. We were considering renewing but will look elsewhere now. Losing local channels is ridiculous for the price we pay.

jricharc

Is there a way out of a contract early due to these circumstances? This is rediculous.

Seeker1437

Information about the channels are available at verizon.com/tegna

Affected Channels:
WVEC (ABC Norfolk)

WUSA (CBS DC)

WGRZ (NBC Buffalo)

Poolecr

This is not nice and not giving us notification.

mirichm12

What is Verizon doing to compensate your customers? I sat down to watch the Dick Clark New Year Eve show and ABC is not on the air. I see your statement to use an antenna. I dont own an antenna because I have Verizon FIOS service that I pay a good price for each month. I am not getting all services that I am paying for. What is Verizon going to do to make it right with their customers?

An Angry Verizon FIOS Customer

CRobGauth

FiOS is a separate business from Verizon wireless., FiOS does not make $1b/month.

Do the local channels share any of the blame for this? They are the ones asking for increased fees.

People complain when Verizon raises rates (this increase will show as increased broadcast charge) but then complain when negotiating trying to keep rates down.

Naples2022

The latest outrage from Verizon: Sending an email on New Years' eve to all DC area customers telling them FIOS will drop the local CBS affiliate station-- and not replace it with another CBS station. I guess they were hoping nobody would notice this. Their assinine solution: Get an HD antenna or get a CBS paid app on your phone.

My hope is that when enough people realize they cannot watch CBS, including several NFL playoff games and the Super Bowl, they will be as mad as I am. I'm sure Verizon will follow up with some standard corporate-speak about how they are "protecting customers" buy taking away the ability to watch a major network.

Their only answer is likely to be "too bad," get an antenna. I have another solution: Get rid of FIOS. I'd rather not switch to Comcast Xfinity, but Verizon has just made that decision much easier.

MP212

How long do we wait before we know if CBS DC is coming back. I am not paying 5.99 more for their app. Why would I pay you and pay them. If we don't get it back I'm sure there are other deals out there.

Blessedkimy

Good Morning

I live in the Washington DC Area and was made aware that we are loosing a local channel. While I understand that Verizon is trying to keep the consumer's cost down, I see that we lost another channel FUSE. my suggestion is if you are not renewing FUSE why can't the savings from not paying for that channel be used to keep a local channel. I feel that the local channels are more important that the other channels. A lot of the low income people in the area that have basic services rely on the local channels for viewing. Just my thoughts!! Verizon please bring back CBS

Dissatisfied71

I am so happy that Verizon is looking out for my interests in not passing through the cost for kowtowing to Tegna's price increase.

I certainly wish they previously had the same attitude when tacking a regional sports fee to my monthly bill. I have zero intererest in "professional" sports and never watch them, yet there continues to be a monthly extra fee on my bill.

If someone wants to show me how to remove that fee (and the associated channels in my channel lineup) I will certainly be grateful. Please don't tell me to drop my entire TV plan because that is not a suitable answer.

mustangsalty

Very angry with Verizon about this. I pay over $1800 / year for their services and this is how they treat customers in good standing. Verizon, my contract is with you not Tegna. I do not care about your dispute whatsoever. i FULLY EXPECT a prorated reduction in my bill for the channels and content I do not get for however long this lasts.

I am missing a bowl game i was looking forward to today. And your message of "use an over the air antenna" is crap. I pay YOU to provide it.

ASTROBIRD

Honestly who cares,there are hundreds of channels we cant be bullied into paying more for less.Do not give in Verizon

JAWZ1

Personally, I appreciate Verizon looking out for my best interests. If Tegna and WUSA want to jack up the rates they charge Verizon for carring "Americas Most Watched Network," they can stuff it. If you are worried about missing the Super Bowl, you got bigger problems.

TW104

I expect a rebate from Verizon Fios...i pay for a service and I expect that service. By not providing me my channels that I subscribe to, you are in violation,.

Mermaid2019

Sorry, I'm not interested in football as that is the small section of this, it is the principle of removing a local station, stations that should be provided on our local cable and are basically free to begin with. We carefully reviewed with the agent on the phone a few weeks ago, the channel line-up before signing a 2-year contract, and all our local channels are important to us as that is the majority of our tv viewing, so we feel duped and scammed at this sudden and unannounced action. Their suggestion to buy an app, which I can't do, is an expense we also can't take on despite not being able to utilize an app for tv viewing. I also feel I shouldn't have to go to additional lengths to watch programming we were led to believe would be on our cable package. Verizon and Tegna I'm sure make enough money, not sure who is really at fault here, BUT, we pay more and more for services and seem to get less and less which is awful.

Golfer620

Totally unacceptable for the loss of one of the most watched stations in the DC area. Is Verizon going to deduct the $5.99 cost for getting the app to be able to watch it? No, I don't think so. Too many programs on CBS are watched by our family. When you had the same thing going with Disney and ESPN, that would have been fine. Do something right for your customers Verizon? I'm paying way too much for Verizon to have this happen. Always have enjoyed FiOS but this is really ticking me off.

Gardenia1

Just found out about this today. I don't watch WUSA 9 much, but still want to have it available if necessary. Pulled out an antenna I bought 2.5 years ago and hooked it up and I'm able to get WUSA, WJLA, and WRC. The only channel I want that's not coming through is PBS, but am going to work on it.

I usually stream with Sling (now has WRC and Fox 5), Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, so only want the local channels for when there's some kind of emergency. Antenna seems to be doing the trick, so plan to get rid of my cable (I only have Basic Cable now) after a little more of a trial to make sure this set up will work.

Something to try.

Harpo3

Let Tegna keep their ABC network channel and keep our rates low. There is hardly anything worth watching on ABC anyway. Hold fast and see how long their sponsors like their actions.

TaxDawg

If this continues towards the Super Bowl, then we will have a problem....especially if my team is in it AND Verizon refuses to lower my bill. I understand what my contract says but I still have no issue demanding a lower bill with the loss of this important channel

Edg1

I do agree with you that there is no good shows on any of the big Networks. Fortunately I didn't lose any channels in my area, but CBS WUSA in DC is also one of the lost channels. I can't say that I'd be very happy to lose access to the Super Bowl. I know there is other options but still a hassle to have to run out and hook up new equipment or have to pay to stream CBS.

md99

Call Verizon and complain. See. https://www.wusa9.com/verizon

Seems like there is a case to drop your contact.

Aquarius1

That is a ridiculous position to take. Do you realize that cable prices have been skyrocketing? Why should we as consumers be the ones to bear the brunt of everyone else's greed. The blame should lie squarely with WUSA. Verizon is absolutely right on the money. They continue to lose subscribers due to these inflated prices. Just ask your family and friends - we all have the same complaints. The cost of cable is way too high. If forced to pay these high fees it will just be passed on to consumers. Do you think Verizon is going to take the hit?!

Soze

I guess that I’m in the minority here. If Tegna is asking Verizon for a “ very substantial” increase for these CBS stations, I’m on Verizon’s side. They will forced to increase our rates, which are already too high. I’m tired of everything always going up in price. I do agree that Verizon owes its customers a refund, freebies or something. In any case, I fired up my OTA antenna, I just can’t DVR NCIS now. I think cord-cutters are on to something!

Aquarius1

In agreement 100%. These are the same people that will be complaining when their bill goes up. It isn't rocket science - if Verizon has to pay more, then you have to pay more. Isn't you bill high enough as it is?

md99

Lol. Why should I take any position except that I require CBS to be part of my package. It isn't. Verizon get your act together or I will leave.

Patty_Webb

Not totally sure but TEGNA is the company that owns the local CBS in the DC area, Norfolk, VA and Buffalo, NY. All other markets for CBS that might be under Verizon are not part of this blackout. I am beyond angry with Verizon and TEGNA. We give Verizon good money for programming. I do not want to change providers. I also can't afford another service like CBS All Access plus watching TV on the computer is not good and would take up our time from other computer persuits.

cc4music

I am wondering why I should continue to have Verizon. My rates go up every two years and you all continue to remove channels or move them into a higher tier to make your customers pay more if they want to access that channel.

I see see that mess you all are running about your contract with Tegna. It is **bleep**. Why should we pay 5.99 month for CBS all access? Verizon should be paying it because that’s why we are paying you. I know exactly what companies/broadcasters make because my company represents them. If you have companies like Tegna and other networks pull out, then Verizon won’t be in the cable business.

When you call Verizon with technical issues, they want the customer to do all the work. I am not paying Verizon so that I troubleshoot my own issues. The wait time is always 20 minutes or longer.

Get et it together Verizon. You will lose me as a customer in six months when my two years is up. I have to “fight” you every time because you want to raise my rate substantially. Not this time. Treat your customers fairly as you want to reach a fair agreement with Tegna and Disney. I stand with Tegna and Disney.

md99

Looks like Verizon isn't playing nice. From the wusa9 website.

Why is Verizon refusing to reach an agreement to carry WUSA9?
A: We cannot speak for Verizon. But here is what our audience should know: WUSA9 is committed to reaching a fair, market-based agreement with all the video service providers in our area. Our track record proves it. Over the past few years, we reached hundreds of multi-year deals with cable and satellite companies all across the country, including DIRECTV, Comcast, Spectrum and many others. In fact, we have had only ONE disruption in our recent history due to a contract dispute and that was resolved within a matter of hours. So, it has been disappointing that Verizon has refused to reach an agreement.

Aquarius1

There is nothing in the statement that WUSA posted that contradicts the facts in this case which is they are looking for a substantial increase. Noyhing but a pkay on words. Comcast service is subpar at best to Fios. DirecTv is great except for lost signal during inclement weather. It is easy to say I am leaving - but leaving for what? Still loses in the end with having to settle for mediocre service. Verizon hang in there, most of your customers don't go against their best interest. We are with you in trying to keep prices at an affordable level.

Moose62

Is there any serious negotiation to restore the Tegna stations to the Verizon lineup? Or is the nearly $200/month paid to Verizon for programming and FiOS for naught?

Who loses in a corporate fight? The customer.

md99

The facts are obvious. Tegna has no problems with other providers. Verizon is. Verizon dropped the weather channel and almost dropped Disney and ESPN. Isn't it obvious?

LewisCarroll

We watch 25% of our FIOS TV on WUSA (Channel 9). And we pay a lot for Verizon providing Internet, Phone and Fios services. Verizon has a contract with each subscriber to provide certain channels. The fact that a major channel cannot be provided by Verizon because of a dispute between Verizon and Tegna is a material breach of Verizon's contract with its subscribers. Notwithstanding anything in writing Verizon has stated, the subscribers are third-party beneficiaries to Verizon's contract with Tegna. Therefore, notwithstanding any penalty for terminating FIOS services that Verizon has imposed on its subscribers, they have breached their contract with the consumer, allowing us, if we choose, to terminate the K w/Verizon and use a different provider without penalty.

Nightmare2

As a loyal Verizon customer, I feel I should get a refund until you resolve your dispute with Tegna owned stations. Channel 2 NBC affiliate is my favorite station for news and network shows. Why should we pay to get an antenna when we faithfully pay you every month for our programming. I don’t know what the beef is between your two companies but why do we the customer have to suffer because of this. Our bills never go down so please don’t tell us you are saving us money. I just want my channel 2 back. Please resolve this or I will need to look elsewhere for another provider.

prdcrkat

Has anyone contacted Verizon to see if it is possible that we can leave since they are breaching the contract that they have with us? I tried yesterday but the chat person was clueless and then they kicked me out of the chat so never got an answer. I'm thinking since they are in breach of our contract for the specific channels we should be able to leave without having to pay anything?

Chelle12

For the life of me I can't understand how Verizon has to negotiate the price for a channel that u get for free with an antenna. I would like to know if I cancelled my service with Verizon would they waive the fee for early cancellation being that I'm not getting what I'm paying for. Customers pay to much to have these issues.

FudgeG

I agree! It makes no sense that Verizon can't offer this channel anymore. We pay enough for cable TV as it is. This is just another reason why I'll be dropping cable TV and getting rid of the expensive 'rental' fee on their cable DVR boxes. I will be only be streaming conent as soon as my contact expires.

md99

Here is what I saw for options. on the WUSA9 web site. https://www.wusa9.com/verizon

Consider switching to a new video provider or tell Verizon to bring back WUSA9 by calling 1-877-680-8909.

You have choices. WUSA9 is available on other video service providers in our area including DIRECTV, Comcast and Cox and you can always get WUSA9 free over-the-air.

DIRECTV

1-800-531-5000

Comcast

1-800-934-6489

Cox

1-800-234-3993

You can also access WUSA9 programming over many over-the-top (OTT) providers like DIRECTV Now and YouTube TV that offer instant access when you sign up.

909.

md99

Might be time to look at cutting the cord. YouTube TV looks pretty interesting....

JAWZ1

Much of the blame for this situation is a result of how the FCC chose how Internet Service Providers (ISPs) would deliver internet service to customers years ago. They (the FCC) essentially decided to re-create the "old Bell System" style of service.

If you go back in time, American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) built a "single provider" service model also known as The Bell System. (Can you say, "monopoly?") It was a "closed system" and you could only get telephone service from AT&T and their wholly owned regional subsidiary companies (Northwestern Bell, Pacific Bell, Atlantic Bell, Southwestern Bell, etc.) The regional companies had exclusive access to the AT&T Bell System. Even as a customer, at one point you were prohibited from adding a phone device in your home. (For instance, if you had a phone in your kitchen, you had to not only pay to have a phone installed in your bedroom, but you paid a higher monthly rate because you more than one phone instrument, which by the way was owned by the phone company.)

In 1982, the Justice Department decreed that AT&T had to relinquish control of the Bell System along with its infrastructure and allow other companies access to that infrastructure. This led to the rise of new "carriers" like MCI and Sprint. Now, phone customers were allowed to choose their phone carrier and get service at a competitive price, using the same system that had once been the proprietary property of AT&T.

Now, wouldn't be nice if you had that choice for ISPs? Well, you do in a fashion, but unfortunately for those of us in the USA, you have to lock in to an agreement with a proprietary provider. While most of the rest of the world, gets to choose their ISP based on price and service level. The ISPs all have equal access to the entire infrastructure and can offer competitive pricing and levels of service. If the USA ISPs were structured this way, it would be far more competitive and there would be far more providers.

Think about how many "wireless" (cell phone) providers there are. Not all of them have built their own wireless infrastructure. That's why wireless providers like Consumer Cellular can sell you services at less cost than the "big" cellular providers. They simply buy the excess bandwidth from AT&T and T-mobile. So they don't have to maintain the infrastructure, they can offer you cheaper rates. If the ISPs were structured/regulated (I know for some that's an ugly term for some) "Dave's ISP" would have access to the infrastructure of FiOS, Comcast, Cox, etc., maybe offering you a better deal.

So, at your next opportunity, send a "thank you" card to the FCC for screwing the American consumer.

COMET65

I just watched ch. 9 with my old antenna up in the attic. All the local channels come in fine. And about 15 others. I might just cancel my fios cable and just watch the free H.D. over the air! The cash I would save from my Ultimate H.D. package would pay for a few internet channels, like HULU. and a lot of rentals at red box.

channel9wusa

Are you reducing our bill each month?

Appreantly it is 5.99 to get channel 9 back. This accouring to your own ad. Please reduce my bill by 5.99.

Also how do I cancel? I watch the local channels so I'm moving to cable.

mgshn

The outage was cause by TEGNA, the company that owns WUSA, wanting to charge Verizon double the current rate. They may have figured doing this so close to the super bowl would give them leverage.

I think it's important that the people inconvenienced by this, maybe all million of us, let TEGNA know how we feel. The best way in this high tech Internet age is to give them a call and leave them a DETAILED description of the impact of their attempt at a money grab.

Ward4NDC

I was shocked New Year's night to find out WUSA9 here in Washington, DC had gone dark on Verizon Fios. There are a few CBS shows I watch on Verizon Fios. However, Channel 9 suggested that Verizon Fios switch to another cable provider. I left Comcast in 2012 switching to Verizon Fios due to their fiber optic lines and Internet. DirectTV is required to have an outside antenna and many people I know have lost their reception with DirectTV due to bad weather. I have always had a Verizon landline telephone since the 70's and I will never get rid of my landline telephone or Internet with Verizon. To be honest, I rarely watch WUSA9. I was very upset when they got rid of Me-TV for a couple of months and I complained to Verizon's Chairman/CEO in New York City filing complaint with the D.C. Attorney General. Maybe Verizon Fios consumers can filed complaints with their Attorney Generals regarding this matter.

HerrWizard

It's not Verizon's fault they had to discontinue rebroadcasting WUSA in the DC market, it's all on TEGNA for trying to jack-up the price Verizon has to pay to distribute WUSA to Verizon's NoVA FIOS customers. Talk about hubris. FIOS is going to provide a far more consisitent signal delivery than WUSA would enjoy over the air to WUSA's customer base yet TEGNA insists on extorting higher rates from that very customer base for that delivery. I, for one, support Verizon telling TEGNA to pound sand with their rate increase and am off to purchase a high def antenna for my TV.

mgshn

I agree that TEGNA is the "villian" in this and was trying to suggest that people impacted by their greed flood their switchboard as a way of displaying their disgruntlement.

A HD antenna may not be the answer for everyone. Even if you are lucky enought to have a place to plug it in, I don't, there is still the matter of losing DVR capabilities.

Good to know about that Verizon will provid a billing adjustment to compensate for the CBS online service fee and I'll give them a call.

AntennaRGood

Verizon is becoming like USPS. "We don't care. Take it or leave it."

It's time to buy an antenna "for the next time." Amazon has them, about the size of a sheet of paper. If you can actually install an outdoor antenna, you will see channels that Verizon doesn't carry.

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