Why are we now being charged to see "On Demand" episodes?
steffd
Enthusiast - Level 2

We used to be able to catch up on what we missed by accessing "On Demand", but now there are charges for seeing older episodes.  Verizon is my largest utility bill and I have nearly every option available, but now they want to charge for free programming.  What good is "On Demand" if you cannot catch up on shows that you missed without paying for them.  Even the really current ones that are free are not up to date.  This is just Verizon trying to compete with all the other options out there that charge for older episodes of popular shows and I am sick of it.  I have a ROKU, Netflix and Amazon Prime, but don't think I should pay for programming on a regular service I pay a great deal for.  I am so sorry I renewed my service and I am sorrier that Verizon cannot be a little better than it is - we are not getting what we paid for and I feel cheated.

Re: Why are we now being charged to see "On Demand" episodes?
gs0b
Community Leader
Community Leader

It's not just Verizon.  On demand content is negotiated between the service provider and the content owner (networks).  The networks try to structure the On Demand content to optimize how much advertisement revenue they can get.  Different providers get different deals and exclusives, which is why different providers have different on demand libraries.  If you remember that the networks customers are the advertisers and not us viewers, you'll begin to understand why content isn't as freely available as consumers would like.

The other answer is to get a DVR.  Then you can record what you want, watch it when you want, and skip any commercials you want.

Good Luck.

Re: Why are we now being charged to see "On Demand" episodes?
roaddogg1
Specialist - Level 1

gsob nailed it right on the head.

Another thing is if you dont want to dvr the shows is hulu plus if the shows are on there or go to the networks website or app and watch it from there. If you have a smartphone you can hook up an mhl/hdmi adapter to the tv or use screen mirror.

Re: Why are we now being charged to see "On Demand" episodes?
EerilyIncognito
Enthusiast - Level 2

roaddog - I think what the OP is trying to get at is the fact that Verizon  is charging for something that should be free because they are already subscribed to the channel/network that the content is on.  Take Bar Rescue for example - I never had to pay to watch episodes on demand with other providers (nor would I) and now it seems like to watch any episdode on demand, I have to pay the standard $1.99 for SD or $2.99 for HD.

What you are suggesting is that the OP pay for additional VOD services, but I agree with them that it's absurd that we have to spend more money in the first place when we are already payiing Verizon a hefty sum to provide content.  I am not sure if this has always been the case with them but it's a good way to keep potential customers away.

Re: Why are we now being charged to see "On Demand" episodes?
roaddogg1
Specialist - Level 1

@EerilyIncognito wrote:

roaddog - I think what the OP is trying to get at is the fact that Verizon  is charging for something that should be free because they are already subscribed to the channel/network that the content is on.  Take Bar Rescue for example - I never had to pay to watch episodes on demand with other providers (nor would I) and now it seems like to watch any episdode on demand, I have to pay the standard $1.99 for SD or $2.99 for HD.

What you are suggesting is that the OP pay for additional VOD services, but I agree with them that it's absurd that we have to spend more money in the first place when we are already payiing Verizon a hefty sum to provide content.  I am not sure if this has always been the case with them but it's a good way to keep potential customers away.


I got what the OP was saying but as said it's not just a Verizon thing. A lot of providers aren't charging for ondemand content, but guess what? They soon will be. You watch.

We don't know what the contracts between Verizon and the networks for the content are, but if Verizon is charging others will soon follow suit.

Also, I'm not suggesting the OP pay for additional VOD services. I am listing other alternative ways to watching the content for free without having to pay. Hulu is free, Hulu Plus is not however with the right searching for some tricks and offers you can get promo codes for free access. I had Hulu for free for almost an entire year before I stopped using it. Logging into the actual networks website to watch videos is free as well so no I wasnt suggesting the OP pay for additional services.

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Re: Why are we now being charged to see "On Demand" episodes?
HokieDave
Contributor - Level 2

Admittedly, I so rarely watch on demand shows that I wouldn't know ... but in the past, the only ones available were usually the last few weeks.  Once in a while, a network or individual show would have all of the past shows available but usually it was maybe 4 weeks of them.  Are those not still available for free?  If so, then the only think that has really changed is that Verizon has added a whole bunch of previous history that you can now pay for.

My only complaint about it is that if you search for, say, an actor who did 10 years of a TV show, you're now going to get every single blessed episode of that TV show as a separate line item in the search results and since the results are all in a random/unpredictable order, you're going to have to sift through it to find the movies that the actor was in, which is probably much more useful than a complete accounting of the 10 years of some TV show.  It would be much better if the 10 years of that TV show was one line item in the search results and then you could drill down into that if you wanted.

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Re: Why are we now being charged to see "On Demand" episodes?
tns2
Community Leader
Community Leader

You never mentioned what shows.  HOWEVER many shows are available On-demand both free and not free.  Make sure you look for the show in the Free and premium section for the channel its on.  searches often nastily bring up the pay for version first.

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Re: Why are we now being charged to see "On Demand" episodes?
Hubrisnxs
Legend

Hi, just an FYI.

I ran into that problem when searching for an on demand show.  Verizon apparently offers it for rent BUT if you have it in your package, and navigate to the right on demand folder, it would be free under that folder.

So if it's a show trying going to on demand, free and tv shows, and then search by network and find the title, and it normally is free in the network folder

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Re: Why are we now being charged to see "On Demand" episodes?
EerilyIncognito
Enthusiast - Level 2

I am not sure if there are any specific shows that he is referring to but I am just referring to any show that is normally aired on a network that I am subscribed to....let's take Arrow on the CW for instance.  That network is available in almost every package offered by Verizon and it's competitors.  I am interested in said show but it is two seasons in so I want to watch it from the start of the series.  But when I try to watch it on demand [Verizon], I am met with a very unpleasant rent/but each episode.  Now I'll admit that while not every episode of Arrow was available on-demand on cable, I never once had to pay to watch previous episodes of it to catch up to the current season - that being said, I also have Netflix and I am able to watch shows like that on demand for only $7.99/ month versus $2.99 per episode.

I guess my main concern is if this is the case for most shows especially for shows on premium channels.  Has anyone had experience with this?  I am just wondering, for instance, if I am unable to watch GOT on Sunday nights on HBO and I forget to DVR it am I going to be able to watch it on demand with no additional fees?  I would think that would be a deciding factor for at least a few individuals.

Just my 2 cents.

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Re: Why are we now being charged to see "On Demand" episodes?
tns2
Community Leader
Community Leader

Just less then two years ago Comcast and CW signed a deal to add CW on-demand.  Not sure if any others have been able to add it as it was an exclusive iniitally.  Certainly is one of those that Verizon Does Not Carry.

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