On Demand charging for new episodes on Channels that I already subscribe to.

[ShortyB1]

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. 

[tns2]

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@merlin96wrote:

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.

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Actually make perfect sense that ABC website would not charge buy On-demand would.  ABC gets direct income from any info and ads on their site.

Hearing that some are seeing charges for these on some but not all of the tv cable/satellite providers

[CRobGauth]

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@merlin96 wrote:

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.

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So I checked around and got the following response:

Availability of content, in particular "free" episodes, is determined by rights negotiated with content providers. While in most cases Verizon has the exact same offer as other cable providers, there may be exceptions. Those exceptions can be caused by rights granted, technical capabilities, etc. As a result there are instances in which there will be differences in content availability across cable providers. The issue with AMC's "McMafia" was a result of one of those exceptions. 

AMC's "McMafia". We compared on our platform the episodes from Season 1 that are available for free vs what is available on Comcast's X1. The content provider (AMC) expired on Verizon Fios Free episodes 1 (101) & 2 (102) on 3/28 and 4/4, respectively.

It's possible the reason these two episodes are offered for Free on Comcast is due to the AMC Premiere SVOD service that Comcast offers to its subscribers.

With regards to "Roseanne" there was an error with those episodes. Issue has been resolved and those episodes are now available.

[leafrom]

It's a bogus response from Verizon .  The most resent episodes are not supposed to have charges.  For example  as of today 5/3/2018 the most recent episode of  Fear the walking dead and Into the badlands are posted for sale by Verizon while logging into  amc with  a verizon user name  allows  me to watch those episodes free of charge.   Mind you the previous episodes are still free on verizon's on demand.

   This is either a calculated attempt by verizon to get more revenue or a profitable mistake.  In fairness there could be a reasonable explaination  like these AMC episodes. Are they scheduled for rebroadcast on amc hence the charge?  In searching I see those episodes are scheduled for rebroadcast several times this week.  This would be a much more reasonable explanation when dealing with AMC content.

[CRobGauth]

One way to check would be to ask a friend with another provider.

See if they have the same episodes for free or a fee.

[Kengrush1]

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@CRobGauthwrote:

One way to check would be to ask a friend with another provider.

See if they have the same episodes for free or a fee.

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I actually just switched from Spectrum, formerly Time-Warner, and they either have episodes on demand available, or they are not available for any given show.  But for all current programming, both regular and premium network shows, at least the current season, and often the immediately preceding one were available free on demand if you subscrived to a service containing them.  You NEVER had to pay for it.  If it was listed, it was free.  And, you could watch each VOD episode as many times as you wanted (what exactly was that plot twist???).

Fair use has always included the right to make one copy of something purchased for personal use only.  That's what free Video On Demand (VOD) does, as most networks now corrupt any outgoing high-resolution signal going go a recording device.  VOD was the fix to compensate for the loss of this court supported right to save one personal copy of purchased content.

Verizon has subverted this right, and blamed it on content providers.  Based on this legal precedent, they could easily demand, based on market share, that copies of subscribed to network shows are stored for on demand viewing.  It doesn't cost the provider anything, because they've already been paid for the content.  Where is the "fair use" copy??? 

DVR is not perfect, and mistakes or lack of advance awareness of a showing are frequent occurences.

[MJNY]

This is basically fraud because they are charging us twice to watch shows. 

Not sure why the Attorney General has not stopped it. 

I know that as soon as I move I’ll never use Verizon again. 

[jonjones1]

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@MJNYwrote:

This is basically fraud because they are charging us twice to watch shows. 

Not sure why the Attorney General has not stopped it. 

I know that as soon as I move I’ll never use Verizon again. 

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Did you file with the NYS Attorney Generals Office? 

Http://www.oag.ny.gov 

he has an online complaint document. And a toll free number.

you may also address the issue with the agency that regulates Verizon and other utilities. http://www.dps.ny.gov

The Public Service Commission also has a toll free number and a online submission portal for the complaint and any supporting documentation. Both agencies require it.

[CRobGauth]

You keep repeating it is fraud.

Yet the fact that other providers do it isnt?

And you say that VOD was promised as all free.
Yet no where in the TOS does it say that.

[jonjones1]

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@CRobGauthwrote:

You keep repeating it is fraud.

Yet the fact that other providers do it isnt?

And you say that VOD was promised as all free.
Yet no where in the TOS does it say that.

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It would be even better if you quote the person that stated that. 🤨

[MJNY]

I’m the one who is saying it’s fraud

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@jonjoneswrote:

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@CRobGauthwrote:

You keep repeating it is fraud.

Yet the fact that other providers do it isnt?

And you say that VOD was promised as all free.
Yet no where in the TOS does it say that.

---

It would be even better if you quote the person that stated that. 🤨

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because we are being charged twice to watch tv. 

Why dont you get that??!

I already pay a premium price to have all

the channels!  Charging me to watch a show again, is fraud. Or theft? Or it’s something that can’t be legal. Call it what you will. 

So so now I’ve explained it for the 50th time. 

Good luck. 

[jonjones1]

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@MJNYwrote:

I’m the one who is saying it’s fraud

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@jonjoneswrote:

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@CRobGauthwrote:

You keep repeating it is fraud.

Yet the fact that other providers do it isnt?

And you say that VOD was promised as all free.
Yet no where in the TOS does it say that.

---

It would be even better if you quote the person that stated that. 🤨

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because we are being charged twice to watch tv. 

Why dont you get that??!

I already pay a premium price to have all

the channels!  Charging me to watch a show again, is fraud. Or theft? Or it’s something that can’t be legal. Call it what you will. 

So so now I’ve explained it for the 50th time. 

Good luck. 

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Take the advice I gave you a few answers back. If in New York contact the agencies I gave you.

[MJNY]

Yes, I contacter

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@jonjoneswrote:

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@MJNYwrote:

I’m the one who is saying it’s fraud

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@jonjoneswrote:

---

@CRobGauthwrote:

You keep repeating it is fraud.

Yet the fact that other providers do it isnt?

And you say that VOD was promised as all free.
Yet no where in the TOS does it say that.

---

It would be even better if you quote the person that stated that. 🤨

---

because we are being charged twice to watch tv. 

Why dont you get that??!

I already pay a premium price to have all

the channels!  Charging me to watch a show again, is fraud. Or theft? Or it’s something that can’t be legal. Call it what you will. 

So so now I’ve explained it for the 50th time. 

Good luck. 

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Take the advice I gave you a few answers back. If in New York contact the agencies I gave you.

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them last year. Never got a response. 

[jonjones1]

I know for a fact if you are a New York State resident the Public Service Commission does reply both in email and on the phone. They contact Verizon who responds directly to the customer and follows through with the state regulating authority.

if they find you are complaining about something they have no control over they do nothing after telling you. Same with the attorney generals office.

verizon executive escalations is mandated to contact the customer who filed the complaint. 

Do as the other replyer stated and get a streaming service.

[MJNY]

I wrote to the attorney general and not one answer.  

[jonjones1]

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@MJNYwrote:

I wrote to the attorney general and not one answer.  

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You did try the NYS Public Utilities Commission? Try them.

[CRobGauth]

Its not fraud.

Legal definition of fraud starts with the accused party making a statement that they know is false.

Where did Verizon ever say that all on demand would be free?

They can easily say you are only paying for the linear viewing.

The content providers control this.

Have you ever once complained to any of them or posted they are defrauding you?

Why not cut the cord and go with with a streaming service if you are so unhappy?

[Kengrush1]

I have FIOS at my main house, and just started Dish TV at the beach house.  THERE ARE NO CHARGES FOR ON DEMAND TV VIEWING ON DISH!!!!

Is that clear enough???

[jonjones1]

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@Kengrushwrote:

I have FIOS at my main house, and just started Dish TV at the beach house.  THERE ARE NO CHARGES FOR ON DEMAND TV VIEWING ON DISH!!!!

Is that clear enough???

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Try referring to the post you are responding. It would help.

because dish tv doesn’t charge has nothing to do with how Verizon Fios tv operates.

two completely different companies with separate transmission deals.

i would recommend if your paying on Fios then get dish tv at the other location and then “Problem solved” 

[MJNY]

Try reading the entire thread so you understand that others have been saying that all carriers charge. Then you’d understand the answer. 😊👍

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@jonjoneswrote:

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@Kengrushwrote:

I have FIOS at my main house, and just started Dish TV at the beach house.  THERE ARE NO CHARGES FOR ON DEMAND TV VIEWING ON DISH!!!!

Is that clear enough???

---

Try referring to the post you are responding. It would help.

because dish tv doesn’t charge has nothing to do with how Verizon Fios tv operates.

two completely different companies with separate transmission deals.

i would recommend if your paying on Fios then get dish tv at the other location and then “Problem solved” 

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[jonjones1]

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MJNYwrote:

Try reading the entire thread so you understand that others have been saying that all carriers charge. Then you’d understand the answer. 😊👍

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Try reading the part where folks are saying some providers charge and others do not.

again the individual providers have the say if it’s no charge or charge, on what networks or on demand. You cannot change what is transpiring except by trying another provider.

[tns2]

I haven't had Dish or DirecTV for awhile.  At least while they were offering on-demand over their satellites, they had very limited on-demand.  And that on-demand included free and pay items.  I gather things may have changed in terms of their giving you more content.