On Demand charging for new episodes on Channels that I already subscribe to.
ShortyB1
Enthusiast - Level 1

Ever since the new On Demand menu launched I have noitced a change in the pricing of On demand episodes on channels that I subribe to as part of my normal FIOS TV package. I first noticed this with a recent episode of Teen Wolf on MTV that I had started watching for Free two days prior then when I was switched over to the new On Demand menu that same episode had to be purchased for $1.99 for me to continue watching it. Next the same issue happened with the latest episode of the Vampire  Diaries on CW. Assuming this was a mistake I called customer service and was told that it was the Channel providers MTV and CW not Verizon that had made price change for the episodes but was also told that I could  watch these same episodes for free online. So I logged into Myverzion account online and and found that all the curent episodes were in fact free.  This makes no scense at all. Why am I being charged extra to watch content on my TV that is free online. This totally defeats the purposed of paying for cable. The fact that I have to pay extra to watch content on my TV that is now only available for free online is ridiculous.  Im convinced that this a mistake that started when the new On demand menu was released.  Also I have checked at a few friends and relatives houses over the holidays and was able the to watch the exact same content (current episodes) for free On Demand with Direct TV and Comcast.  So imagine tonight when I sat down to watch the latest epsode of Grimm On Demand on NBC with FIOS and found that I had to pay $1.99. I begrudgingly got up off my sofa logged into Myverzion account and found the very same episode is free to watch online. Please fix this mistake or I will be switiching to Direct TV ASAP. 

431 Replies
Mghowells12
Enthusiast - Level 1

The OnDemand screen layout just changed, and now many programs (Comedy Central shows, NBC and other major networks, etc.) require payment to watch shows, even recent ones. Because I can only record two shows at a time, this is ridiculous. I pay $130 per month for cable and this is what we get. I'm prepared to cancel- it's too expensive and just not worth it.

tns2
Community Leader
Community Leader

They still have as many pay as free(or included) shows as before.  However the new VOD pages rolling out make it more confusing.  Make sure you filter "free and owned". 

Pretty much when a show comes up in the free category depends on the network provider.   Often they do not offer the most recent shows as free for a few weeks and then make them available.   Making things worse is the decision of some of these channels on launching "all-access, etc." offerings of their own.

RobS888
Enthusiast - Level 2

That filter only works for a single year of a show and isn't remembered if you go back into the same menu.

That should be a global setting...

Didn't they test this crap?

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anni12261
Enthusiast - Level 2

Seems like Quality Assurance was on vacation the day they released the current user interface.

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Ladybugaboo
Enthusiast - Level 3

Maybe the service you have is different from mine because it's only the NEW shows that I'm allowed to see for free.  After about 3 shows in, VZ starts charging.

I'm also not getting as many FREE shows as before because every single channel previously offering ON DEMAND for free is now a rental except for the newer episodes.  Binge watching previous seasons is no longer an option unless you're willing to pay.  In addition, this new ON DEMAND technology is horrible - time consuming and cumbersome.  Who dreamed up such an inconvenient system?   I'm tired of paying so much for so little to Verizon who obviously doesn't care about their customers. 

MJNY
Contributor - Level 2

I used to think Verizon was great. Not anymore. 

This cannot be the networks ( as Verizon has said )because this is just stopping us from watching new shows. I cannot be home every minute of every day. 

CRobGauth
Community Leader
Community Leader

One way to confirm is to ask someone that has abnother cable provider.

Ask them to check the same shows you are seeing that Verizon is charging for to see if their provider has them for free.

Some have reported in this thread that their comparison shows charges across other providers.

One reason for content providers to charge is to drive people to either their website or other streaming services that are paying them.

All about the money.

MJNY
Contributor - Level 2

Verizon gave us no notice of this and they are charging for channels I pay extra for so sorry, your explanation doesn't fly. 

Indont care are of my show is commercial free so I'd rather watch commercials than pay Verizon one more penny than I am now. 

All this his has done is assured that I will not renew my contract with Verizon.  

When I get a new service and they are charging for On a demand then I will at least know that up front. I hate dishonesty. 

Ladybugaboo
Enthusiast - Level 3

It's true most people can't be home every day or night and will miss a favorite show but what about those people who work nights.  You miss just about every show when you work nights and we are not paying to watch what we already are paying for.  I crazily thought Verizon was getting better until they did this and also changed the whole ON DEMAND layout.  It's so frustrating and time consuming to go thru the array of choices that it's hardly ever worth it.  I use the SEARCH option instead but who knows how long that'll last.

If Verizon doesn't let me watch the shows I pay for when I want to watch them then they really aren't worth it.   Verizon ... you're just a bunch of greedy you know whats and you have such great potential - what a waste!

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Joeber
Newbie
Filter- free and owned Where does one find this
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CRobGauth
Community Leader
Community Leader

Once you select a show, you have that option.

Unfortunately, it is not a global option yet.

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telman63
Enthusiast - Level 1

On Demand now charging for shows (2017) I never used to pay for as Emerald City on NBC. Other shows on differnt networks like si fy are also charging. Why is FIOS charging for these and still free on other cable providers. Whats going on?

ShortyB1
Enthusiast - Level 1

I see what you mean about Emerald City. The episodes were only available for pay per view at $1.99 for episodes 1 & 2 during the first 2 weeks but all available episodes are free up to episode 4 now with the exceptipn of episode 2 that you still have to pay for which still sucks. So to this date episode 2 has never been free.  I generally dont like watching shows or trying to catch up on them unless I can watch all episodes in order. Otherwise I just watch on Hulu (which is what I did) or Netflix (Oops there I go again talking about cheaper viewing options working better than ovepriced cable). This is truly subpar for verizon. Even if this is the Channel carriers doing this, someone at Verizon should monitor this stuff for quality control issues and have the testicular or ovarian fortitude to tell them how stupid this is. 

tns2
Community Leader
Community Leader

About Emerald city, I can't check Verizon being Frontier.  But episode 1 and 2 were shown as a single episode and on Frontier show as such in On-demand.  The next episode is episode 3 "Mistress -- New -- Mistress".

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tekola1
Enthusiast - Level 1

I switched to my Roku TV and watch Emerald CIty for free again.

fillow
Enthusiast - Level 2

Has anyone gotten anywhere with Verizon on this? Today is the first day I called Direct TV and Comcast to figure out which I will be switching too.  I watched all of these shows for free before but now I pay more for FIOS and have to pay to watch these shows that were free before?  This is ridiculous and Im out!

CRobGauth
Community Leader
Community Leader

Before you switch, talk to someone on those other providers.
Compare a few of the shows you are seeing for a fee on Verizon to their provider.

I have checked a few and in thoses cases, the same episodes are for a fee on them as well.

If you find out, please post to share info with others.

I am guessing that you will find they are similar if not identical in episodes that have a fee.

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merlin96
Contributor - Level 1

I did exactly as one person above suggested - compared program episodes that Verizon Fios is charging fees for with the exact same ones of another provider, in this case Xfinity.  My friend checked her On Demand for AMC's McMafia, episodes 1-3, for which Verizon has $ - and guess what - no $ on Xfinity.  She also checked the first two episodes of season 10 of Roseanne, episodes which aired a mere 7 days ago, and again $ only being charged by Verizon.  I am sick of Verizon outright lying that these fees are being passed on by the networks, not by them.  And I won't even get into the Premium channel On Demand fees-- like when I'm watching old shows on HBO and Showtime, premium channels I pay an extra monthly amount for -- and episodes are unwatchable unless I am willing to pay again.  I am a long time Verizon customer and always favored them over other providers but the lying and greed need to stop or I will be leaving as soon as my contract expires.  Verizon just isn't that good.

merlin96
Contributor - Level 1

One more thing - the Roseanne episodes are so new that you actually can watch them online.  So if there is still any doubt,  clearly this is a Verizon thing, not a network thing.

I don't know how many people are paying for the episodes that Verizon is greedily charging for on demand, but it seems to me that it probably isn't that many, considering that there are so many other ways to watch them.  All Verizon is doing is **bleep** off and driving away its customers.

Please wake up Verizon, if you happen to be reading these forums.

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MJNY
Contributor - Level 2

I’m not paying the extra fees. 

If Verizon wasn’t charging for OnDemand I’d be renting movies from them constantly but now I won’t rent one thing. When I want to watch something I purchase it on DVD. I’d rather pay $20 to a vendor rather than pay Verizon one penny more than I am. 

Lots of bad bad blood because of what they are doing. 

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merlin96
Contributor - Level 1

I agree.  There are a lot of other ways to see the content they are trying to charge for.  You can watch online or through a streaming service, rent from the library, or as you suggest, even just buy from another vendor.  I've done all three but like you, I refuse to give an extra dime to Verizon.

I think it's interesting too that some of the things they are trying to charge for -- like episodes 1 and 2 from season 10 of Roseanne - can currently be viewed free of charge online on ABC's website.  Kind of makes it even harder to believe Verizon's claim that it is the Networks who are having them charge on the ON DEMAND menu.