Child Item

Site Totals

61362 Questions Answered 267 Categories

regional sports network fee

Who else is upset that Verizon fios continues to charge us every month for regional sports network fee even if you don't want any sports channels? Adding insult to injury they now charge $6.39 instead of $2.42! This should be paid for by only those who want sports channels! Verizon must stop this AND refund monies!

Comments

CRobGauth

If you don't want sports channels, then change to package(s) that have the channels you want but do not contain sports channels.

We all pay for channels we don't want. Some reports say that a la carte programming could cost as much or more than current depending on how many channels you want and how popular they are.

bosslett

Has anyone started getting a $6.39 regional sports network fee? It never appeared on my bill until June 3, 2017. I called Verizon but they gave me some run around about that it's a new charge for my sports programs. I told the Agent that I have the same sports programming for 5 years and I never had that charge. Any comments?

sheilaandalex

I've had FIOS service for about a year & have had the regional sports fee the whole time. When I signed up, my package did not come with access to MASN. Had to add it & pay that fee to watch the Nats.

bobbo527

@bosslett wrote:
Has anyone started getting a $6.39 regional sports network fee? It never appeared on my bill until June 3, 2017. I called Verizon but they gave me some run around about that it's a new charge for my sports programs. I told the Agent that I have the same sports programming for 5 years and I never had that charge. Any comments?

I've had the fee as long as I can remember. As local sports teams get greedier and greedier and want a larger share of the pie the fee goes up. And it is not exclusive to Verizon, ALL cable companies charge some sort of sports fee for local sports coverage. Plenty of blame to spread around for it, it's not just Verizon's fault it is so high.

kfh2

Has anyone noticed the fee increases in their June 2017 residential TV bill? I was just on hold with Verizon customer service for 58 minute and my issue is still unresolved. there is now a Regional Sports Network fee, which I was told is a fee from the FCC that Verizon is passing on to the consumers. I also don't understand how me paying more for the same service I have already been receiving is not a breach of my existing contract. There is also a Fios TV Broadcast fee which the agent was unable to explain to me. I was told that I would receive a call back and am still waiting for customer service to call back.

CRobGauth

The Regional sports fee covers costs to carry regional sports channels.

As it states, it varies by region depending on the fee they have to pay local channels.

I believe broadcast fee is similar for broadcast channels.

Contracts only cover the programming charges.

Taxes, fees and equipment costs can change over time.

And as they state, these fees are allowed as pass through by the FCC.

Spy1200

I've been fighting this for the last year with Verizon Corporate, the FCC, the MA Attorney General's Office, and my local town representatives. File a complaint with the FCC and they in turn submit it to Verizon, who by law has to respond to your official complaint.

https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us

It's "Taxation without Representation" since I watch ZERO sports, yet I'm billed for sports programming? Verizon conveniently packages their sports channels even into the stripped down Custom TV packages (all but one). I say bill the people who subscribe to sports...why me? This new increase in the "Regional Sports Network Fee" not to mention the new "FIOS TV Broadcast Fee" is pushing me to the edge to cancel my entire FIOS "Triple Play" bundle.

CRobGauth

My understanding is that this fee is charged by several of the cable providers.

So you can either chose a package that has no regional sports (and may not have all of the channels you want) or have to pay the fee.

You can look to see if there are any of the streaming providers that carry the channels you want as well.

normannj

I agree with you on this too. they've been rooking us for years at $2.42 a month. now it's $6.39!who gets this money? i don't watch, need or want any sports channels. they are devious in their bundle layouts. you can't shed the sports channels without losing channels you want.

CRobGauth

Some of these bundles are governed by contracts that require certain channels to be included in certain bundles.

Verizon tried to offer bundles without ESPN. ESPN sued and won.

So we need to content providers as well as the cable providers.

maplesugar

I have read all your responses about the regional sports network fee and just got off the phone with verizon. I asked as well about the fee, told them I don't watch sports, don't have any sports channels, NOR DO I HAVE ANY OF THEIR BOXES hooked into my tv. I was told the same as most of you, it's for the sports teams, colleges, etc. to broadcast. The fee I see on my bill $10.30, FOR WHAT??

CRobGauth

So you subscribe to a bundle that has no sports channels?

Unfortunately, you get hit with the fee if channels are in your package even if you don't watch.

If you do subscribe to a bundle that doesn't have sports channels, my understanding is that you shoiukdnt have to pay fee.

eprof19841

The problem is that the package I want so I can watch BBCA comes with the sports stations, thus I am required to pay a $12.57 Regional Sports Network Fee even though I never watch sports.

I find this very annoying.

eprof19841

I am very annoyed at the Regional Sports Network Fee of 12.57. I don't watch sports, but the package I signed up for so I could get BBCA has sports, and thus I have to pay a fee for something I do not watch.

I suspect the Regional Sports Network Fee 12.57 add-on is to keep the package I subscribe to at $99.

Sigh.

eprof19841

This is a new fee, and because the package we signed up for includes sports channels, we have to pay the fee. Even if we don't want or watch sports channels.

Verizon Fios changed its packaging of channels recently. Thus, the fee charged to the majority of people now.

CRobGauth

Verizon has been charging RSN fee for several years now on any package that includes sports.

RSN fees vary by location depending on the number of RSN channels and the fees Verizon has to pay for the channels.

And Verizon is not the only provider doing this.

I beleive most doit. Especially those that are in multiple regions.

It is a way to reflect the content cost more locally rather than trying to find some average and spread it across all users. Plus allows those who don't have sports channels in their packages to not have to pay for RSNs.

I know if doesn't feel fair to have to pay for channels you don't watch, but that can be said for a number of channels in different pacakages based on the customer.

tns2

In most cases, if you signed up for a package with price guarantees, you did not initially pay for RSN and Broadcast channel fees. Once however the end of that period was reached or you renewed or made certain other changes, they suddenly appear.

hotpprs8

I am not understanding why this is a separate fee. Why isn't this just an embedded charge for whatever particular TV package you choose?

CRobGauth

It varies by area. Verizon pays more for RSN in some areas than others.

So this way is a bit more fair.

dianeo1

I agree with your comments. How can this stop? Fees, fees, fees!

dianeo1

I just noticed the regional sports network fee on my bill and joined the chat. I called Verizon last evening and spoke to a representative in another country! I was told if I did not pay the $6.39 I would lose 70 HD channels. I told them that I did not want sports channels and did not want to pay $6.39. I lost 70 channels and they gave me a $4.00 good customer credit. Without the $4.00 my FIOS package would have cost the same as before the only difference is that I lost 70 channels! Can you imagine this!!!!

@kfh wrote:
Has anyone noticed the fee increases in their June 2017 residential TV bill? I was just on hold with Verizon customer service for 58 minute and my issue is still unresolved. there is now a Regional Sports Network fee, which I was told is a fee from the FCC that Verizon is passing on to the consumers. I also don't understand how me paying more for the same service I have already been receiving is not a breach of my existing contract. There is also a Fios TV Broadcast fee which the agent was unable to explain to me. I was told that I would receive a call back and am still waiting for customer service to call back.

2tincans_string

No can do: Verizon refuses to remove the sports fee even though I'm happy to change the channels I do receive to exclude any sports coverage. Verizon simply enjoys nickel-and-diming every customer, while sweeping calls from their customers who want to know explanations for charges into the never-never land of infinite rerouting and ultimate disconnecting. I'm confident all the superfluous "Fees and Other Charges" are higher than costs borne by Verizon so Verizon can make even more money off its customers.

jonjones1

@2tincans_string wrote:
No can do: Verizon refuses to remove the sports fee even though I'm happy to change the channels I do receive to exclude any sports coverage. Verizon simply enjoys nickel-and-diming every customer, while sweeping calls from their customers who want to know explanations for charges into the never-never land of infinite rerouting and ultimate disconnecting. I'm confident all the superfluous "Fees and Other Charges" are higher than costs borne by Verizon so Verizon can make even more money off its customers.

You can go to streaming tv like DirectTVNOW or Hulu or Sling and even YouTube tv.

they cost around $35 on up but no taxes, no sports fees, no administrative charges and the costs save you hundreds a month or thousands a year. Just google the companies I mentioned. Enjoy

tns2

@2tincans_string wrote:
No can do: Verizon refuses to remove the sports fee even though I'm happy to change the channels I do receive to exclude any sports coverage. Verizon simply enjoys nickel-and-diming every customer, while sweeping calls from their customers who want to know explanations for charges into the never-never land of infinite rerouting and ultimate disconnecting. I'm confident all the superfluous "Fees and Other Charges" are higher than costs borne by Verizon so Verizon can make even more money off its customers.

You could definitely switch to one of the Choice packages without Sports. You would then no longer have to pay the RSN fee. You might have trouble finding the Choice package that includes all the channels you want.

CRobGauth

And on top of the previous posts, most if not all of the cable providers are doing this.
The reason they break it out is because different regions have different charges.

So those whit more expensive RSNs, pay more.

NickZQ

@normannjwrote:
Who else is upset that Verizon fios continues to charge us every month for regional sports network fee even if you don't want any sports channels? Adding insult to injury they now charge $6.39 instead of $2.42! This should be paid for by only those who want sports channels! Verizon must stop this AND refund monies!

I agree with you. That's why I have the custom programming and picked "drama" instead of sports. You should do the same, chose the Custom TV Infotainment & "Drama or other package" if it say Custom TV & Sport <- which has ESPN you will pay the regional sports network fee.

So right now the only fee's i'm paying is the

-Video Franchise Fee $2.63

-PEG Grant Fee $1.58

-RegulatoryRecovery Fee - Federal $ 0.08

-Fios TV Broadcast Fee - $3.49

Subtotal $7.78

it is still upsetting that these exact charge aren't listed on their promotional cost ads

Ronangel

This fee is $12.89 on my current bill. Its False advertising to say the bundle at $59.99 includes these sports channels and then charge an additional $12.89 for those very same channels. Thats lying about the true cost fo the bundle! I'm furious, will file a complaint with the appropriate consumer authorities and will shop my services around

CRobGauth

All providers do this.

And if you look at most ads, there is a disclaimer that equipment, taxes and fees are not included.

RSN fees are different in different areas. This accounts for different costs different areas have for their RSN charges.

TrayVA

Verizon does this on a regular basis.

They tell you your bill will be one price and when you go to pay the bill they jack it up to $15.00+ dollars every month for no reason.

Our Verizon bill has not been correct in years. Every month my girlfriend has to call Verizon to have the bill corrected. We know document every single call we have with them. And we do not due direct pay because it will be harder to get your money credited back from Verizon.

We also request that they send us a document related to what we have just discussed in relation to our bill. DO NOT let them tell you they can not do this, because it is a total lie. I know because we make sure that this is done and sadly it is done on a regular basis.

The shortest time that my girlfriend has been on hold for Verizon in just over 1 hour. Normally when she calls them between being on hold, talking to a customer service employee, then eventually asking for a manager this call can last a couple of hours.

The longest call she has was around 2 1/2 hours to 3 hours.

Also, make sure to check your bill as soon as it comes out because Verizon is going to charge you a $5.00 late fee.

They try to charge us a $5.00 late fee each and every month for no reason. The bill is due on or before the 27th of each month and we pay it between the 21st and the 25th of the month. AND because they do not apply our payment to our account for up to five days after we pay the bill, they then charge us a $5.00 fee that they expect us to pay for there laziness.

This is what we say that Verizon likes to do the bait and switch. They bait you in with there miss-information about what your charges will be every month. AND when you get your bill it could be between $15.00 to $50.00+ dollars then what you agreed to.

And you have to fight tooth and nail to get the bill corrected because of there mistake and or mistakes, not yours.

This is again why we always make sure to have an e-mail sent to us when I have had to call about the bill is incorrect, to ensure that we have the proof when the next bill comes in because I know I will need it.

We would also take the time if you are having issues with your bill or the service to call the corporate office. And ask to speak to someone on their resolution team. The corporate office does take the time to listen to you and works to fix the issues and or issues as soon as they can.

KH-OrnEsh1

Due to the age of this thread, it will be locked in order to keep discussions current. If you have the same or a similar question/issue we invite you to start a new thread on the topic.

davis-kam

Mine is $8.89 a month, I do not even watch any sports.

We pay a monthly fee for Verizon's TV service, with all the available packages Verizon has, no matter what package you pick, no one will tell you all the hidden fees/taxes associated with each package until you look at the monthly bill. You can have a $99 package and all of the sudden the additional fees and taxes are like an extra $35. Are you kidding me?

It's like we are paying for a monthly TV subscription fee, then Verizon says oh you want to view news, there will be news watching tax fee; oh you want to watch cooking, there will be cooking watching tax fee; oh you do not want to watch reginal sports, too bad, they cannot be opted out from your package, you are stuck with the regional network fee; oh you do not watch to watch commercial in betw our shows, that's not good for our business, there will be not-to-watch-commercial tax fee; all kinds of excuses to get money on top of the basic monthly subscription fee... it is beyond ridiculous.

VZ_Donna

Due to the age of this thread, it will be locked in order to keep discussions current. If you have the same or a similar question/issue we invite you to start a new thread on the topic.

Child Item