MASN2 HD

[Caps09]

I just saw this on www.masnsports.com-

Today, MASN announced the launch of MASN2 HD beginning next April, which means that every single Nationals game will be broadcast in high definition in the 2010 season.

MASN2 HD will be a dedicated channel active for approximately 130 days when the Nationals and Orioles are playing simultaneously.

"We're very excited about the launch of MASN2 HD because this is great for our fans, who can now enjoy every single one of our games in crisp high definition" said Nationals president Stan Kasten in the release.

Most operators are expected to carry the channel, which also broadcast Nats Xtra in HD straight from Nationals Park during home games.

Of course, this was on the Nationals side of the site, and it didn't mention it, but all Orioles games will be in HD too.

I would guess that Verizon has plans on carrying MASN2 HD on either channel 501 or 578, but I just wanted to throw this up here to let baseball fans in MD/DE/VA/Central PA be aware of it.

[psumatt1]

I was told today, at least here in VHO8 - there are no immediate plans to add MASN2.

I have to admit after such a huge lead-in knowing when this was launching, I'm a bit disappointed.

[LumpyG]

Since Verizon has no answers, I thought I'd check in with MASN directly (well, as direct as you can get from the on-line 'contact us' page). Here is their, no doubt automated, response to my query:

---------------------------

"Thank you for contacting MASN, the local leader in live sports entertainment.

While MASN offers both of our HD channels to all of our cable, satellite and fiber-optic partners, a few providers may not have launched both channels.

If you have specific questions about Verizon, please contact Verizon customer service directly at 1-888-553-1555.

Sincerely,

Your Friends at MASN"

---------------------------

So, it appears that MASN2 is OFFERED to Verizon, but they refuse to carry it? What gives? 

And a funny note, O's game just finished up, and who is the sponsor on their post-game show? VERIZON FIOS! Man oh man ...

[Caps09]

Yeah- the Nationals postgame is also always sponsored by Verizon FiOS.

I got that same response from MASN...imagine that! That tells you that Verizon could either launch the channel tomorrow or never. On the other hand, the only logical explanation I could think of based on what we've seen here, is that Verizon is establishing a fiber connection to MASN, therefore taking more time to get it straight. All of the other providers probably just depend on a satellite feed. As much as Verizon is fighting to get MSG HD and MSG+ HD, I can't see them passing on this one.

[tpjs1]

It makes little sense to me that Verizon would not carry MASN2 HD here in Baltimore County, but that appears to be the case. We get the YES network and the BIG TEN network, neither of which features local teams, but no MASN2 HD?

Two things may be in play here. One, MASN and Verizon are still dickering over the price and/or Verizon has a problem with the amount of programming besides Orioles/Nats games.

Either way, the customers are always the ones to suffer.

[Caps09]

I found this shining testimonial to Verizon's customer service at dcrtv.com-

I spent 30 minutes bouncing from location to location with Verizon FiOS tech support/sales/billing, etc. asking about MASN2 in HD. It's amazing how difficult it is to try to explain to them than MASN2 (on Channel 1) is NOT in HD. When I ask them, "Are you going to offer MASN2 in HD?" they tell me that they already offer MASN-HD on channel 577. I tried to explain that MASN-HD and MASN2-HD are two separate channels. They then say that they offer both channels. I stated again, "Yes, you offer both MASN and MASN2, but only MASN is in HD. I'm calling to find out when you will offer MASN2 in HD like your competitors are doing." I got transferred back to tech support. So, if you are an O's or Nats fan and want to watch all of your games in HD and you have Verizon FiOS...you're screwed. That's what I took away from today's Merry-Go-Round on the phone. And to think, I left Comcast and Dish Network because I hated their customer service.

This is why I never, ever, ever bother calling Verizon. I've been through this before, and it's absolutely pointless!

[LumpyG]

I did find it quite amusing that one lady I talked to on a separate issue (Fox Soccer Plus) admitted - quite frankly - that she was just searching the internet for the answer I was looking for. Said something to the effect of 'that's about all we can do' ... it's hard to get mad at the customer service reps, because it seems like Verizon keeps them as much in the dark as they do their customers. And I at least appreciated this one person's honesty. 

[Caps09]

I was kind of frustrated the other night and sent an e-mail to Verizon asking about MASN2 HD. I got home from work this morning to find a response. This is hilarious-

I currently show with your current service TV Extreme Verizon currently offers MASN2 on Channel 1, MASN on channel 77, and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN HD) on channel 577 are all offered in your current channel line up.

If the person on the other end of this e-mail would have had a clue about TV channels in general, I would have been shocked. I've just come to expect robotic responses like this, not just from Verizon, but from any customer service people.

[jumperjohn]

Comcast and EVEN BROADSTRIPE carry Masn 2 HD.  This is crap that Verizon doesn't.  I thought they boast they are the HD Leader of the Industry.

[birdman546]

I broke down and called them today about MASN2 HD. Got a nice rep that did some checking and she said everything was telling her we already had MASN HD, but she said they were two different channels. She told me to try 501, of course it is not there. She told me she would ask her sup who to call to get this channel suggestion to the right people. Her sup was gone for the day, but assured me that she sent him an email.

I would ask everybody that wants this channel to take some time and call and tell them that everybody else has the channel. MASN is offering it to them they just have to pass it on

[LumpyG]

Yep, I called again yesterday and pretty much had the same experience. The problem is, the customer service reps can do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING and it is impossible to find someone who knows anything. My rep, when pressed, once again admitted as much - she has the ability to search around the same as we do, and basically can just pass any of our concerns up the chain (at least  assume they do this when they say they do). She even indicated her immediate supervisor doesn't really have much more power than she does. So, while I get frustrated with the customer service reps, I know it's not entirely their fault. Verizon has given a group of people phones and internet access, and expects them to answer every query that comes in without knowing the first thing about the company and its operations. If anyone knows of a way to contact an actual Verizon representative (email, snail mail, phone number, whatever) please post it here. And in case you do call Verizon, here is MASN's listing of which cable companies are carrying MASN2 HD and what channels they are on:

http://masnsports.com/masn_news_information/find-masn.html

It is very frustrating, and would be nice to know that Verizon (not some random customer service rep) at least cares or is aware of the issue. 

[Caps09]

E-mail-

https://www22.verizon.com/Content/ContactUs/EmailUs/emailus.htm

U.S. Mail-

PO Box 9000

Annapolis, MD 21401-9000

When you write, make sure you mention that you know MASN, MASN2, and MASN HD are already carried so you don't get a response like the one I posted earlier. I encourage everyone who cares about this to both write and e-mail them.

Also, anyone who uses Twitter can sent a tweet to @fiostv. He has not yet responded to any questions about MASN2 HD.

[Jimbo1947]

{edited for privacy} is a Verizon VP for Customer Service.  Send her emails at {edited for privacy}.  I have received recorded voice mail messages from her when I have called tech support, reported a problem, etc.  I doubt that she actually responds to her emails ... probably one of her subordinates ... but maybe the problem with MASN2 HD will get to her ... for whatever it's worth.

I too have talked to tech support and customer service about the MASN2 HD issue ... and no one knows what is happening ... or why is isn't happening.  Ridiculous ... I'm ready to go back to COMCAST! 

[psumatt1]

Jimbo-

The issue right now is that VZ is nearly out of channel capacity. Why do you think the only HD channel we've seen in the past 6 months (MSNBC HD) was added only b/c they swapped it into where the Red Zone HD channel was?????

Until they upgrade their VHO infrastructure and equipment, or start moving HD's to 3-1 to a QAM, you most likely will not see MASN2 HD. IPTV will not be introduced until next year at the earliest.

The same goes for FSC HD, etc...

[jb3710]

It's hard to believe FIOS would run out of capacity to carry more channels. SInce FIOS was built from the ground up in the last 10 (?) years, they should have built in the capacity that all channels will be in HD. Right?

[LumpyG]

psu - Where did you get your information? 

---

@psumatt wrote:

Jimbo-

The issue right now is that VZ is nearly out of channel capacity. Why do you think the only HD channel we've seen in the past 6 months (MSNBC HD) was added only b/c they swapped it into where the Red Zone HD channel was?????

Until they upgrade their VHO infrastructure and equipment, or start moving HD's to 3-1 to a QAM, you most likely will not see MASN2 HD. IPTV will not be introduced until next year at the earliest.

The same goes for FSC HD, etc...

[balistk]

I've heard it's most likely because Verizon's policy is to not carry part-time HD channels, as Verizon wouldn't carry MASN HD until it became a full time channel.

[Caps09]

True, but not in this case. MASN2 HD is a full time channel that shows ESPNEWS HD when a live game is not on, just like MASN2 shows ESPNEWS. From a fan perspective, it would be nice if Verizon could replace ESPNEWS HD with MASN2 HD (inside the BAL/WSH region) for the season until the bandwidth constraints are worked out, but we all know that ABC/ESPN would never allow that.

[woody3260]

04-26-2010 - I find it rather amusing, for lack of a more honest word, that Verizon Fios is a main sponsor of MASN Orioles television programming this season, YET, MASN2 HD is not a channel that is offered by them.  As a Fios TV customer, I am personally offended by the never-ending onslaught of advertisements that say, "EVERY game, EVERY play in HD, blah, blah, blah". 

It is RIDICULOUS that MASN2 HD is not offered.  Shame on you Verizon.

[Caps09]

Caps are done, so it's back to baseball. Unfortunately, the Nationals @ Marlins are on MASN2 HD all weekend. Has anyone mentioned yet that Verizon is the only MASN HD provider that doesn't have this? Maybe so.

I'll admit that this isn't nearly as bad as when we didn't get CSN+ at all during most of the hockey season, but it's pretty annoying, especially just after paying over $200 for this month's bill.

[bobgr]

I lie in No. VA about 18 miles from DC and this week all the MASN games on the only MASN HD channel were of the Orioles, not the home town Nats.  Why won't FIOS give us MASN2 HD?

[psumatt1]

Lumpy,

I get my info from the horse, as they say.