VOD_212

[papalee1]

I keep getting the error message "VOD-212" and it says something along the lines of an "invalid program" and "not on our servers." This only happens at night, usually around midnight. It happens to all my receivers. It is not an individual receiver problem or a subscription issue. Rebooting does nothing to help. Anyone have any ideas?!? 

[spacedebris · Accepted solution]

does it start working again in the morning? If so it is likely Verizon updating the VOD system. When updating with new or removing old VOD they have to take the server offline so that means you cannot order. Most of the time they do this in the middle of the night so it affects as few people as possible. Sounds like that is likely what is happening to you.

[papalee1]

That makes sense. You'd think, however, they would notify us some other way than a dumb error message like VOD_212. I've been online with 2 tech people and not one of them suggested what you have. I appreciate your reply.

[Onigiriman]

Me too, Thanks for clearing that up for me. I wonder how long it takes though. I'm a night owl and watch a lot of TV at night so this is not too cool. But at least I know now.

[MrBigShot]

Is this a solution?

It seems more like an explanation, and even at that it fails to help users resolve the "error message" that pops up when attempting to access video on demand. 

The error message reads:

We are unable to process your request at this time.  Your selection is not available on the system.  Please make another selection.  [VOD_212]

Technical info: Invalid Program

As this update process seems to take more than five minutes (20 minutes and counting here so far), my suggestion is to solve the problem of the erroneous and misleading error message.

For certain the error message needs to be revised to eliminate the sentence "Please make another selection", because ALL SELECTIONS are labelled as "invalid" and selecting another program gives the same error message again and again.  Also, selecting a "bookmarked" item causes all of the bookmarks to be labelled as invalid and all bookmarks are removed (highly annoying!)

One more thing: why allow a customer to even access VOD when this update is happening?  If nothing can be selected without the incorrect error message, then it's pointless to even allow a customer to enter the VOD system.  A simple message that states VOD is unavailable (ugh) would suffice.

I don't recall this happening when first we switched to FIOS, and now it seems to happen weekly.  IF VOD is going to be unavailable at certani times, could you publish a schedule of when?

Thanks. 

[tncook]

---

@MrBigShot wrote:

Is this a solution?

It seems more like an explanation, and even at that it fails to help users resolve the "error message" that pops up when attempting to access video on demand. 

The error message reads:

We are unable to process your request at this time.  Your selection is not available on the system.  Please make another selection.  [VOD_212]

Technical info: Invalid Program

As this update process seems to take more than five minutes (20 minutes and counting here so far), my suggestion is to solve the problem of the erroneous and misleading error message.

For certain the error message needs to be revised to eliminate the sentence "Please make another selection", because ALL SELECTIONS are labelled as "invalid" and selecting another program gives the same error message again and again.  Also, selecting a "bookmarked" item causes all of the bookmarks to be labelled as invalid and all bookmarks are removed (highly annoying!)

One more thing: why allow a customer to even access VOD when this update is happening?  If nothing can be selected without the incorrect error message, then it's pointless to even allow a customer to enter the VOD system.  A simple message that states VOD is unavailable (ugh) would suffice.

I don't recall this happening when first we switched to FIOS, and now it seems to happen weekly.  IF VOD is going to be unavailable at certani times, could you publish a schedule of when?

Thanks. 

---

I completly agree with everything you said! & here it is 3 months later & the same issue is occuring 

[Richiereds]

yep same thing happing to me right now and the tech actually scheduled a tech to come to my house to check my wiring.  If they know its just updating just have a pop-up come on and tell everyone.  Updating the VOD system right now sorry for a inconvenence ... thats all not a hour on the phone and a tech scheduled to come out later for me to find this out on a blog lol... whoever made the decision to do things this way should be fired and any 6 yr old with some common sense should take their place.

[pegling]

Well, at least I know what's going on now.  Unfortunately I work until 1am and would like to watch something when I get home.  This constant problem is making me rethink my cable choice.  I can't believe Comcast is actually looking good again.

[amatern]

It's 9:00 pm and this is happening to me ... rebooted the STB to no avail. 

[amatern]

this is not a solution.  If, in fact, Verizon is updating their VOD server(s) (and seriously, this can't be the case.  Verizon only has a sinlge way of distributing VOD? ) and there is no other message than a cryptic numerical error, then something needs to be fixed.  Give the end users a better error message - at the minimum.  Find a better way to update your servers while keeping customers happy.  This error shouldn't occur at 9:00 pm EST on a Wednesday.

[Burticus]

Something new going on here.  I'm in DFW and I used to watch VOD all the time before bed... after midnight Central time.  But for the last week when I try all I get is the stupid 212 error.  When I try again the next day it works great.

If this is some kind of daily maintenance it MUST STOP.  Move it to 4am or something.  A bunch of people are still up after midnight!!!!

And why now?  Like I said I never encountered this problem until the last week.  I spent a lot of time rebooting stuff, checking router configs, etc.... but then it all works great during the day.

I hope someone from Verizon is READING THIS but I doubt it.

[starck911]

I have been having problems with VOD and my internet.  I've had enough of this, I'm going back to Time Warner at the end of this billing cycle.

[carolanngo]

Absolutely, this is not a solution, only an explanation. I was told by a technician that networks update their shows directly to fios and do it at different times. I find it hard to believe that Verizon gives other organizations direct server access without first going through Verizon staff to do so. Overall, I find the tech support staff unhelpful.

[iamthewalrus]

+1 to all of you.  These people are **bleep**.  I've been on hold for "Tech Support" for 30 minutes.

It's 10:45 EST - still prime time.

Comcast is no great shakes either, but they answer the phone.

[Badstrife]

A few people, more like 1/2 of the VOD users. If Verizon where smart they would use a better method of updating their servers. This issue is every night, not just a few times, every! Redundant servers, servers for currentday and servers that take the updates then swap when needed? Minimize the downtime?

[yscustom1]

Wait ... I'm really impressed now. Its between 2300 and 0100 sat-sun. I've been getting this error for well over a half hour. This is the time that they've determined is most suitable for upgrades? So what exactly am i paying over $200 / month for...the ability to NOT rent movies when i'm actually able to watch them?

[DuzyNuny1]

Yes, This is totally ridiculous. Since 7PM, Monday evening I am trying to access VOD. I am on hold for 60+ minutes and no customer support and no movies. Verizon becomes really bad as the service goes. I think it is time to look into somebody else. Does anybody knows if Direct Tv has better service?

[Heather_VZ]

I'm sorry for your frustrations!  The recent VOD issues are being worked on and we hope to have things resolved soon.

Thanks!

-Heather

[nfgnyc]

So offended by this last post.  These complaints about the VOD error are more than a month old and I'm still having the same issues. And all tech support ever says is that they're performing maintenance. Are you kidding me? It's essentially a shrug of the shoulders. "Oh, sorry. Can't help you. They're perfomring maintenance."... Which may or may not be true... but how would the customer ever know?

Google performs server maintenance, too. As do my banks. As does my job. Yet, I'm always able to access those services when I need them... even after midnight, believe it or not. Not FIOS VOD, though. Every night after midnight, you're out of luck. My building has only gotten FIOS in the last year. I will be sure to inform tenants who haven't switched to FIOS not to do so.

I've kept my end of the bargain. I pay my bill in full and on time every month. I'm sick and tired of paying for services that are not provided and suffering tech support that doesn't even pretend to try to resolve issues. I will be cancelling my account.