Why are STB's Required?

[Pitt]

I have subscribed to the FiOS Premier service since Feb 2008 and have had to spend extra money for a SD Set-top Box (STB) each month to get all the channels I had subscribed to.  If I don't use the STB, I only get channels 2 to 49.  I understand without a STB, I cannot use On-Demand or PPV and I am fine with that, so why do I need to add an additional piece of hardware (for a price) to view channels that I am already paying for?

To take this a step further, I just upgraded the main TV in our house from SD to HD.  Just to see what would happen without the box, I ran the auto channel setup on my HD TV, and sure enough I got beautiful (local) channels in HD, plus WGN, MTV-U, and all ~80 channels from Urge Radio & More Music.  So it is clear that Verizon is scrambling the other non-premium channels (i.e. HBO, Showtime) such as Discovery, ESPN, National Geographic, etc to force you to spend the extra money per month (~$120/year) and get a STB.  No where could see on their website does it state that you must have a STB or at least *why* you must have one.

Does anyone have a legitimate answer to this question?  I find this to be an unfair, if not illegal, trade practice.

[Keyboards]

My understanding is that this is required by the content providers (ESPN, Discovery, Nat geo, etc.).  The only reason you still get some of these (and not in HD) on "other cable systems" is that they still carry analog channels and FiOS has gone to all digital.

[TimSykes]

Its not about Verizon, its about the content holders ie HBO, Showtime, FX, CNN. They all want their Channels encrypted.

There are 2 types of signals fios broadcast quam, and clearquam. Quam needs a decryption with a cablecard that is integrated into your STB, that would be channels like HBO, Showtime, FX, CNN.  Now Clear Quam is for your local channels, same as broadcast TV, they do not require any type of encryption. You will see this with most cable providers. And the more that move to all digital signals you will see them switching over the encryption quam system as well. The only ones not effected or the people still broadcasting in analog.

[Keyboards]

Tim -

Just for clarification it's QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) - not a criticism, just trying to use the correct terms in posts for clarity

[G-Pon]

All of the posted information is essentially correct. Now, I think there have been court rulings advising cable providers it would not be legal to require a non-free set-top box for local programming back as far as '97, but as the original post demonstrates that is not the problem, he got the local channels just not the premiums.

Keeping track of the number of subscribers so cable providers can reimburse their providers like HBO or ShowTime, the addition of commonly expected features like TV Guide information, VOD, the data processing power to render a high quality HD sporting event all really need a set-top-box. The vast majority of cable TV users therefore need that set-top-box, and any smart large well-organized company is going to design their product for that set of people

Non standard customers are important to Verizon too! Accommodations for other ways to use Verizon’s FiOs are made all the time where possible, and I’ve even heard we (the industry) is working on fully integrating the TV and the set-top-box making the need for the set-top-box go away for anyone who doesn’t want one!

[TimSykes]

Thanks for the info that good to know, I have found both ways to spell it, and I went with the wrong one.

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@Keyboards wrote:

Tim -

Just for clarification it's QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) - not a criticism, just trying to use the correct terms in posts for clarity

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[dvhart]

So what about FiOS TV Local subscribers?  Verizon refuses to provide the $12.99/mo plan without the addition of some kind of STB, even though my TV is tuning the signals (both SD and HD) just fine without it. When I returned the HD DVR, they disabled my service.  To get it turned back on I had to spend two hours on the phone with them and have them add an STB to my account as they refused to it without one (said the system wouldn't let them).  Now I'm watching SD and HD Local TV (and recording it with MythTV) without an STB, but am being forced to pay for one (they gave it to me free for a year, but now I have to remember to call them in Dec 2009 and yell at them some more so I don't start getting charged out of the blue).

{link removed}

Message Edited by CharlotteS on 12-30-2008 03:55 PM

[pt109]

I am fighting this right now.  I have the local programming package with no STB.  Now, on my first bill, they are charging me for the STB.  I called up the Billing department and they gave me a credit for the STB for this month.  However, it appears they cannot send a bill with charging only the local programming ($12.99).  They have to charge for the box even though i do not use it.  Very frustrating. 

[dvhart]

The sales person on the phone couldn't figure out how to do this either.  What she ended up doing was giving me a promotional 12 months free on a box (still no contract).  Interestingly enough, they never sent it to me!  So this gives them 12 months to fix their broken-4$$ billing system.  I set an event in my calendar a few weeks before the year is over to remind myself to spend another futile several hours on the phone with the less than knowledgable sales people to try and correct this once and for all.  So if you're listening Verizon - PLEASE FIX YOUR BILLING SYSTEM to allow the local package without an STB attached to the bill.  Should you choose to encrypt the channels to force the need for a STB, then we'll just move to HDTV OTA.