The Weather Channel

[popo79941]

I hate AccuWeather.......how come customers did not have a choice or a vote to keep The Weather Channel???? AccuWeather stinks, there are no REAL stories nor do the show any weather people out in the field......this is the worst, I watch the weather channel everyday. I might just think about changing my service to someone who has The Weather Channel!!! I hate this.....ugh !

[tinkercat]

I feel very slighted by Verizon.  They were sneaky dropping The Weather Channel, one of the channels I watched all the time!  Loved the shows as well.  They didn't even notify us, give us a message on our TV messages.  Just took it away!  I totally agree with what you said as well as all the others.  We just signed up for another 2 year contract and if I would have known about this, I absolutely would have gone elsewhere.  There may even be the possibility of cancelling this contract and I am sure that Comcast or one of the others would pay for the fee if I switched.  I am outraged!  I refuse to watch that lousy Accuweather and the only reason I turn to that channel is to see if the Weather Channel is back on.  

PUT THE WEATHER CHANNEL BACK!  I THINK YOU WILL BE LOSING A LOT OF CUSTOMERS, VERIZON, BECAUSE OF THIS!!  JUST NOT RIGHT THE WAY YOU WENT ABOUT IT!!!  SHAME ON YOU, VERIZON!!!  

And I will go to any outlet to voice my anger about this!  They probably figure that after some time passes, everyone will settle back and just accept what is.  I am really annoyed with you, Verizon, and I am voicing my opinions to you, online and here in this discussion thread.  

[dberwic]

Absolutely agree!!  I also just renew my agreement.  I am keeping up my end of the bargin..........paying my bill on time. They should have to keep the channels that I signed up for!!!

[JimWilkson]

I agree.  My contract will be up in a couple of months and I plan to look for a new company that offers the Weather Channel.

[djmel]

dj mel most of us want the weather channel back so maybe should listen

[Maxnel]

I am canceling as well.  I enjoyed both TWC and Weather Scan. 

[jonesmagicfan]

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@Maxnel wrote:

I am canceling as well.  I enjoyed both TWC and Weather Scan. 

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Unfortunately, the only way to get TWC and Weather Scan back is to cancel with Verizion FIOS and find another provider. According to TWC, Verizon is not interested AT ALL in continuing any negotiations.  It was stated that the Verizion FIOS decision is final.  I will call customer service today to cancel my service.  It truly is sad that 14 cents per subscriber is too expensive for Verizon. ESPN costs nearly 6 dollars per subscriber.  Maybe Verizon should renegotiate with ESPN.

Since Verizon doesn't seem to care, the only way for us to vote is with our "feet".  They will probably make me pay an early termination fee since I re-upped just before TWC was removed.  If they would have given me a months notice, I would not have renewed.  That will be part of the conversation I have with customer service.  If they charge me an ETF, I will then leave Verizon Wireless as well once my contract is up(which I pay $300 / month). My ETF will be less than one month of my Verizon Wireless bill but I am sure they won't care because they do not care about customer service.

Verizon FIOS, it has been fun.  The service started out great because customer service matters when you build a business.  Since FIOS is now established (and actually shrinking) they could care less about the customer.  Seems like a bad way to maintain a business.

I hope your deal with Accuweather (which probably has some type of exclusivity clause) gets you what you want.  That channel is certainly a piece of junk.

So long.

[Old-School]

This letter was promted by a recent line up change in Verizon Programs.

Dear Sirs,

Thanks for the "heads-up" it will save me a fruitless search for a great national weather channel. Seems like corporate greed has once again taken the lead over customer service.

I'm sure the dollars you save will probably out-weigh the lost revenue over customers that drop your service because The Weather Channel was their 'go-to' station.

Maybe with all the bucks you save you can offer some really great improvements to your long time existing customers (suckers) that keep renewing their FIOS-HD. Especially the ones like myself who refuse to pay an extra $18 for the HD part of our 'HD-Prime Contracts'.

It really is a shame that your once growing and great service has deteriorated to a desperate grasp at every possible buck you can squeeze out of your clients and customers. You would think that customers that you've had for more than five or six,or ten-twenty plus years really deserve a new and free upgrade in hopes that they will not stray. You do know free 1080 HD is available on simple TV antennas, right?

Time heals all wounds and those still fesstered, like promised $100, $200 & $300 gift card rebates, these may be forgotten, but, certain, is a never ending entertainment glut that will swallow up cable-TV like a fly to a frog.  You folks with your upgrades and extra charges will wallow in a dwindling customer base.  Court your customers like new brides Verizon, or the divorces are eminent.  Give special deals to your existing customers as freely as you do to your new potentials, treat us like stockholders...people that have an interest in the company.

I am definitely not alone in my disgust with VZ cable-TV, multiple friends and family members have thier own 'rip-off' stories.  We share these in humored disgust, fellow suckers comforting one another's financial wounds and service frustrations. Keep dissing us and faking like you really care and you will continue to see cable -TV usage dwindle.

The Weather Channel will be missed by some more than others. It offered more than just weather, but so does thier online app on my AT&T phone.

I have evaluated my families options for continued service with Verizon and honestly your coming up short. Really you do need to court us like you care, love us , up-grade, full-fill your rebate promises, find "Happy-Happy, Win-Win" solutions.

Sincerely,
O-S
Maybe 'too-long'  with Verizon

[CRobGauth]

What are you refering to when you say Verizon charges $18 for HD portion of plan?

Verizon has never charged extra for HD.

Yes, an HD STB is required if you wish to rent equipment from Verizon, but you have other options (TIVO, cable card, etc).

Some cable providers have an extra charge for HD.

[bryant2000]

This is a public safety issue when seconds count in a major storm!  Our former 24/7 Weathercast Channel 49 had included 24/7 Doppler Radar of our area including detail of the major parkways and interstates instantly.  The Weatherbug radar is just zoomed out too far to include most of Virginia...  Our Richmond, VA area now appears as a dot.  When I contacted Verizon I was told that Verizon customers should not use FIOS TV radar anymore,  but should leave their computer on all night to search for the weather apps if they expect bad weather.  This takes time and is less convenient in emergency.   For example, the "zoomed out too far" Weatherbug will not even recognize our zip code.  I checked with COMCAST today and they still have the detailed Doppler Radar for the safety and convenience of their customers.

[bryant2000]

Correction: Channel 49 was "Weatherscan Local."  I believe it was owned by Weather Channel and still on COMCAST.  On a large screen the 24/7 Doppler radar gave a marvelous view of what storms were approaching, including detail of affected major roadways in our area providing safety and convenience to the customers who could plan their routes accordingly...  Only had to use Channel 49 and easier to see than on small screen devices...but no more.  I wrote to a Verizon President concerning the switch to the poor detail (Zoomed too far out) that Weatherbug now displays, but did not receive the usual formal response that most companies provide...     Instead a "team member" replied by email and phone, but did not seem to admit or recognize the difference between the vague Weatherbug radar image and the detailed  Doppler radar they dropped.  She still recommended AccuWeather which has no local Doppler radar displayed 24/7 that I can find.

[simonsez1]

I agree. How can channels be dropped but not the price? Accuweather is not what I wanted either. Now the The Weather Channel is gone and so is the local radar/weather on channel 49.  How can terms and conditions change without notice by the provider? But,if the customer wants a change get your wallet out!

[CRobGauth]

Its the way they have written the contract.

They can add and delete channels as necessary.

BTW, this is pretty standard amongst all the providers.

[TampaDad2014]

I agree.. accuweather is terrible!! Bad deal Verizon!

[jojo124]

I agree, we rely on the Weather Channel throughout the year. Verizon is wrong to discontinue. I will be one to cancel my service if it's not brought back.

[Motie]

I have lived by weather channel for many years. In construction, and car wash business. Accuweather is terrible. Bring Back Weather Channel and Weather Scan

[bjones1975]

I agree,  accuweather stinks.  I want  The Weather Channel!!  There is no substitute.  Time to shop arround for another cable provider.

[Nubee]

I agree. Accuweather is beyond horrible. A group of grade schoolers could do infinitely better. Neither Accuweather nor Fios's weatherbug or whatever it's called provide the personable, quality reporting we get from TWC. I don't want to get my weather reports from robots. I want the dynamic team reporting that professionals like TWC provide. Accuweather's disjointed and choppy presentation is annoying as heck. The reporters practically run into/trip over each other when swapping out - which they do quite frequently - and all have the personality of a flea. What a dour group. There is certainly no team effort at work. And don't even get me started on graphics and visual layout - not to mention the lack of detail in reports and lousy audio. It's enough to give me a headache - or make my eyes cross. BRING BACK TWC!!!!

[Mattyuk]

I want the weather channel back right now. I watched it all the time and one of the channels I wanted getting TV at home. A disgrace!!

[whiteraisin]

I also want the weather channel backand will leave fios if it desn't happen. Has Verizon responded to any of these comments yet?

[sangs1]

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@whiteraisin wrote:

I also want the weather channel backand will leave fios if it desn't happen. Has Verizon responded to any of these comments yet?

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Why would they? This is a peer-to-peer forum. However, they've said many times that it isn't coming back.

[Nobycane]

And that is true - Verizon FIOS and Accuweather has a contract that spans out for like 10 years or more.

Accuweather is very basic and in its early stages - yes. However not having localized weather radar (like TWC had) is problematic for customers.

I don't care what Verizon thinks customers should do...this whole they can get it from their phone, iPad, etc. is **bleep**. Its just a smokescreen excuse nothing more.

The fact is, people will leave Verizon FIOS for the programming deletion tactics, their ever increasing costs for packages and their poor customer service.

Fortunately, I have no issue with their phone and internet services........but this whole cable FiOS thing has done me in... I will be moving towards Direct TV or back to Comcast, Verizon has been nothing but issues and problems witihn the last 2 years. Just cannot justify to remain with them......and the sad part is, Verizon doesn't care.