I just heard that we may lose ABC, Freeform and Disney channels. Most of what I watch live is on ABC, both news and entertainment. I'll be switching providers if we lose ABC.
I have tried to call Verizon to complain about dropping ESPN etc. Automation stopped me from getting anyone. I tried live chat and they had no idea what I was talking about.
What kind of company are we paying for our service. I have been a customer for over 15 year and will end it if these channels are dropped.
The ESPN channels are about the only TV I watch now. Except for some of the retro channels that's it. The thing about it if Verizon drops these or doesn't renew,however you want to term it, the price will not drop for us consumers. The same rate will stay and Verizon will just max out more on profits. This is guaranteed. I think I still have over a year on my contract. I will do like someone else suggested, I'll drop to the lowest package possible and go with YouTubeTV as I have heard good things about it for my ESPN viewing. So there are options for us all. My feeling at the end of all this is that Verizon wants out of the cable TV business. This is their major move to go away from that and just concentrate on other aspects of their business. If we could see their TV only revenue its probably not near as much as they would like. In the end they just can't compete with Comcast,DISH and DTV. Plus all the others that have come on board like YouTube,Hulu and Vue. I'll sit back and wait to see what happens this weekend then decide on my move. If I miss a few games so be it but if I lose espn THEY WILL LOSE ME.
Does anyone know what discount or rebate that Verizon is planning to offer customers in the event that the Disney/ESPN programming is removed on January 1?
Frankly, I'm looking for a reason to drop cable in general and just keep the internet. This might help me actually do it.
I think this is total **bleep**. UI have been with Verizon for 13 years. The NEED to get this resolved BEFORE 5:00PM on Dec. 31 or I will be dropping fro breach of contract and I just renewed for 2 years within the past week. I also want to have them add the ACC network when it launches/ I am already paying over $250 per month - so they ARE making money.
I really hope they come to an agreement. I watch ABC and a couple of things on Freeform, and my husband watches ESPN. I'm angry enough that we don't have The Weather Channel (Accuweather is awful and no live coverage of events) and the fact that I now have to pay extra for HBO even though I have the biggest channel package. I will HAVE to switch providers if we lose these channels. I will not go to Comcast though. I switched from Comcast to Verizon because Comcast had the worst customer service and the internet was down at least a couple of times per week - sometimes for 12 hours. I have very little downtime with Verizon internet. Maybe I'll have to keep Verizon internet, use Hulu to watch live TV, and pay a la carte for the premium channels I want through my Firestick.
To be honest, if the channels are lost is is a pretty big deal, these channels are some of the most popular channels watched by people with the TV service.
Bear in mind at the end of the day Verizon is a business and they are trying to make money.
If you haven't already, take a look at https://www.verizon.com/disney for more details. There is a little more to it that just a dispute which is contributing to this issue.
I will be honestly this makes me nervous for some of my friends who work on the Fios side of Verizon because, in my honest opinion, it will make Verizon seem irrelevent.
What’s the deal
See https://www.verizon.com/disney for more details on this issue.
I will be switching to Comcast if I lose ABC.. Why dont they just pay up and keep our channels.. and are they going to deduct from our bill if they take the channels away?
They are going to wind up losing out if they do this.
Verizon needs to make an agreement with ABC and Disney. I have been with Fios ever since it was offered in my are 10+ years ago. The amount I pay now is outrageous and if this doesn't get settled, I will be definitely be switching as I have been thinking of doing it because of the high price we are paying and no packages for current customers only new. I will be talking to Xfinity.
FYI: Verizon is not the only one having disputes.
I believe it is only going to get worse as time goes on.
http://digitaledition.baltimoresun.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=3d4c9266-7806-4ac7-bea7-c32f2f98e310
Lose ESPN and Lose me as your long term customer. I have already suffered thru losing the weather channel. I miss a football game and a new provider will be at my door faster than you can GONE!!!!
The posters above are absolutely right. If we lose ESPN and Disney, which accounts for 90% of my family TV watching, we should not be held to our contracts. The contracts were agreed to based on the content available at the time, this is false advertising if they go.
Disney is currently proposing that Verizon pay hundreds of millions of dollars more for its programming, despite the fact that many of its key networks are experiencing declining viewership. In addition to the proposed rate increase, Disney is also demanding we include, and pay for, another regional sports channel, the ACC Network, in order to continue bringing you all the other Disney and ESPN networks we do today. The rising cost of programming is the biggest factor in higher TV bills and we are standing up to networks like Disney, refusing to accept these huge increases.
That is what you have been doing to us for years. I dont want the shpooing channel and cartoon network, but it is included with the programs I want. 4 tiers of programming when you have 600+ channels???!! Shame on you.
We WILL cancel Verizon FIOS if the Disney programming (et. al.) is removed.
Agree with you. That was why we switched to Verizon also. Comcast was always down. From friends who still have it, that has improved somewhat. But will have to look into the many other options out there because Verizon will not have lived up to their contract so I will definitely be switching to something else.
As others have said, if Verizon loses all of these channels, they will have to lower my monthly price which included all of these channels previously. I am not saying I blame Verizon but to take these channels away and not compensate customers for it who bought subs for these channels would torpedo any customer-friendly argument the have.
I think Disney is wrong to slam us with increases. I also think anyone who pays attention to their FiOS Bill's would see that Verizon is not even slightly better.
I pay for ESPN from Verizon a service provider. I expect Verizon to continue the service I pay for or a rebate for the full month if I lose ESPN at 5 on 31 Dec and can not watch the NCAA bowl games on the 1st of Jan. This is UNSAT for Verizon to wait this long to negotiate these deals and then throw the issue out to the customer.
I may switch to comcast or Direct TV if VERIZON does this. I see this type of business practice to often from Verizon where as when I had Comcast and DTV I didn't see it as often on the major channels sports enthusiastics watch.
let's just make sure Verizon understands: If they remove ESPN from our subscription, we will remove Verizon from our home. ESPN is one of the main reasons we subscribe to cable at all, and if it's not there, then the package is just not worth it.
Moreover, if Verizon removes ESPN temporarily so that we miss bowl games, the NCAA chamoionship, and/or the NFL playoff game, then they must offer a full refund for the month of January. If the loss is long term, then Verizon must lower the subscription cost for everyone. After all, if they're no longer paying for ESPN or Disney, why should we still be paying for them?
additionally, they must remove all penalties for early cancellation, since they will no longer be supplying the service that all sports fans subscribed to
@NotOffshore wrote: let's just make sure Verizon understands: If they remove ESPN from our subscription, we will remove Verizon from our home. ESPN is one of the main reasons we subscribe to cable at all, and if it's not there, then the package is just not worth it.Moreover, if Verizon removes ESPN temporarily so that we miss bowl games, the NCAA chamoionship, and/or the NFL playoff game, then they must offer a full refund for the month of January. If the loss is long term, then Verizon must lower the subscription cost for everyone. After all, if they're no longer paying for ESPN or Disney, why should we still be paying for them?
Many Verizon customers will want price reductions....so good luck to Verizon if they don't lower Bill's and remove popular channels
Again, not blaming Verizon for this but if Verizon loses the channels, they need to recognize that many customers lost a number of their favorite channels
Just like thousands of others, I am appalled at losing these channels, How in the world can you take away one of the most watched of all ABC. We keep paying more and seems like we keep getting less.
If we lose these channels I will be switching back to Comcast in the blink of an eye.
Get ur done Fios, JERSEYCR
What is the status of negotiations with Disney? Specifically concerned about ESPN being dropped on New Year's Eve. If that happens, I'll drop Verizon and find another provider.
In complete agreement!
@NotOffshore wrote: additionally, they must remove all penalties for early cancellation, since they will no longer be supplying the service that all sports fans subscribed to @NotOffshore wrote: let's just make sure Verizon understands: If they remove ESPN from our subscription, we will remove Verizon from our home. ESPN is one of the main reasons we subscribe to cable at all, and if it's not there, then the package is just not worth it. Moreover, if Verizon removes ESPN temporarily so that we miss bowl games, the NCAA chamoionship, and/or the NFL playoff game, then they must offer a full refund for the month of January. If the loss is long term, then Verizon must lower the subscription cost for everyone. After all, if they're no longer paying for ESPN or Disney, why should we still be paying for them?
@NotOffshore wrote: let's just make sure Verizon understands: If they remove ESPN from our subscription, we will remove Verizon from our home. ESPN is one of the main reasons we subscribe to cable at all, and if it's not there, then the package is just not worth it. Moreover, if Verizon removes ESPN temporarily so that we miss bowl games, the NCAA chamoionship, and/or the NFL playoff game, then they must offer a full refund for the month of January. If the loss is long term, then Verizon must lower the subscription cost for everyone. After all, if they're no longer paying for ESPN or Disney, why should we still be paying for them?
If you read the contract you agreed to, Verizon (like most other cable providers) it says they can add or delete channels at any time during the contract term and it does not constitute a breach of contract.
Agree. I pay for many channels I don't watch, just so we can see ESPN and other sports channels. If we can't get ESPN, I want a refund for January. And I'll find another provider.
Had the same experience and will take the same action. "Live" chat wouldn't even recogize my question - not that I expected a robot to have insight into channel negotiations.
I think most understand the contract states that. Yet, Verizon would be stupid to cut many watched channels, keep their prices the same and then tell customers that their contract requires them to pay the same.
If the person wasnt angry at losing the channels, the idea of Verizon using the contract to have them keeping pay an already absurd price....is one easy way to lose more and more customers.
I suspect most won't cancel Verizon when the channels are off. But I also think Verizon taking a hard stance with the contracts would also cause a high number to actually change providers.
I know that I will if that happens.
HI EVERY LATE NIGHT THERE IS DEAL VERIZON FIOS AND DISNEY ADD ONE MORE STATION INC DEAL ALSO NEW MOVIE PKG COMMING VERIZON FIOS NO MORE BLAZE NETWORK TWO SHOPPING STATION WILL BE GONE OK AND ESPN PLUS PART OF NEW DEAL FREE FOR VERIZON FIOS OK THANK YOU OK
I don't watch much on any of these channels myself. Believe me ABC and all there stations need FiOS as much as FiOS needs them. It will be settled pretty quickly.
Agreed.
I love FIOS , however I will be switching to Infinity if this is not resolved and I lose ESPN
NO ABC GOODBYE FIOS
If we lose ABC ,Iwill be switching providers asap
I would have incured a huge expense to change providers (to the dreaded Xfinity) but would have done so to retain 6ABC and ESPN. Now if you would only bring back The Weather Channel. They are the BEST in disaster coverage and we've had a lot fo that here lately!
Thank you for settling this issue and keeping ESPN channels on the air. I really didn't want to change but would have if they had gone away. Saves me a lot of trouble that I don't need right now.
Feel that fios is not negotiationing in good faith, why else would so many stations be at a point where they are leaving verizon.
Me for one if this happens will be looking for another Service (comcast, Drirect)
Verizon almost seems to be a monopoly and I think they are using their status to strong arm these companies
I have been a customer since Verizon went door to door signing people up.I was ticked off by them dropping the weather channel now channel 7 and ESPN Cmon with what Verizon charges and the companies it has taken over you don’t make enough money.I have the entire Fios package that you first offered but if you are going to continue to drop channels that people normally watch with no compensation then I’ll be leaving.Why don’t you redo a survey and drop some of the really lousy channels you carry and are not viewed by many people why because you have to fill you line up and to hell with the customers.This is really lousy customer service.Here’s hoping you come to your senses and pay the bill.
I think my posts on this forum show how critical of Verizon I am.....but I am not sure what Verizon did negotiation-wise publicly that is....that makes you think they are acting any different than Comcast or Cox or Charter
