Loss of channels amounts to a price increase

[gwb-tx]

Today in Texas we lost several channels that we watch regularly -- MGM HD and Pets TV HD and perhaps others. Scheduled recordings were blacked out. Notices that we are not subscribed to these channels replaced programming.

Needless to say, I am EXTREMELY unhappy. We pay a steep price for HD channels, and to remove any without a price adjustment is essentially a price increase. Less service for the same price. If we have to subscribe to another package or two, that is a double insult.

Please restore these channels immediately or reduce the price of service.

W

[Caps09]

That's not going to happen, but they are supposed to add a few other channels soon. If you look at your contract, Verizon has the right to make these changes, and we have both agreed to it. Such is life in the world of multichannel video distribution. Wholesale costs will go nowhere but up for channels, so Verizon (and all other providers) have to balance things out and pass on those costs. I don't know what other options are available to you, but you can either go to a company that offers more channels and will have situations like this, or a company like Time Warner who won't carry channels like NFL Network as an example, all in the name of its customers.

Good luck!

[mowingman]

Yep, same thing happended to us today. Some channels disappeared. No notice, nothing, just gone.

 FIOS is BECOMING JUST AS BIG A RIPOFF AS DIRECT TV.

 Same price, less service, how nice.

I was going to change over all our cell phone service to Verizon. That is not going to happen now. In fact, I am going to start looking for other alternatives to both FIOS TV and FIOS internet. I hate it when companies pull sneaky stunts like this. At least  they could warn you, and give you upfront notice.

I say again. VERIZON/FIOS is on it's way to becoming a ripoff.

[chancesR]

@mowingman: Verizon is already a ripoff. You're lucky you didn't switch to its wireless or Internet. Verizon created a brilliant ad campaign and we fell for it. 

[guz]

it is a definite rip off as the bundle had been raised sometime this year, it's better to start looking for another source may we'll pay the same but still get all the channels we lost

[BrianC]

Not only that, but their prices are going up for those who don't have a bundle from $57.99 to $74.99  for the HD Extreme package (plus STB rentals, premium channels, etc.).  I was already paying a little more than Dish when I left them a year ago.  I looked at Dish again and their prices have gone up quite a bit too.  To get a similar package as I have with Verizon, the price would be about the same.  I'll lose some of my channels here in Tampa in late July.  I only hope that they will add some more HD channels.  There's only been one addition (MSNBC HD) since I signed up for FiOS in September 2009.

[spacedebris]

You know this is typical for any company right?

EVERY cable company removes some channels and adds others all the time. Price is never reduced.

Now you never see the complaints when they ADD channels do you? Last year they added, what? 20? HD channels. And the year before? Right now, long time customers are getting more channels than they started with, even with the few that have been removed.

Price going up for non-bundles? LOL of course they are, every company out there wants people to bundle (and contract) and what better way to do that than to price the none bundle people into bundling. If you dont want a bundle, you pay a premium. Always been that way. And remember, if your company is doing it, so is every other company. Otherwise everyone would just jump ship. When it comes to price, all companies are about the same (once you factor in all the hidden and incidental prices). There is no significant difference from one company to another. The only exception are the short term "specials" to get you hooked, but they dont last very long.

[Jackosopades]

I called up Verizon to complain about  the loss of four of my HD channels, Petstv, MGMHD, My Destination and Recipetv.  Maybe others.  The tect support person said, "The channel bundle had changed", but if I wanted those four channels it would cost $10 more a month.  But, since I already had those channels in the past that Verizon would forgive the added expense of $10.  And oh yea, by Verizon forgiving the added expense I will incur an additional 2yr obligation. Isn't that Peachy.

Verizon Msg 06/29/2010:  As part of our on going dedication to provide excellent service, Verizon is continuing to enhance it's programming lineup to ensure, blah     blah    blah           blaaaaaah. 

There was no mention of the four missing channels.

Thanks for listening.

[Caps09]

As was mentioned above, no one ever complains when new channels are added, but any channel removed equals fraud and breach of contract. Let's face it- adjustments will be made based on wholesale costs of channels and individual carriage agreements. Bundles will also come and go. New bundles are made to outdate the old ones so people sign up for them. I had the same experience with Comcast, and I always ended up getting a new agreement about once a year. Verizon is no different from any other provider with their packages, and I'm not sure why they seem to be held to a higher standard here.

[spacedebris]

Well, honestly, these forums make them sound much worse than they are.

The complaints and problems here on the board reflect a very small minority of the Verizon customer base. Most people understand that program lineups change, channels come and go, internet speeds fluctuate, intermittent problems with services not working, etc are a fact of life and are true for all providers. They just go on with their lives and dont make a big deal out of it. Just think about it, with the millions of customers Verizon has on Fios, If all the complaints on this board reflected even a significant number of those millions, Verizon would be out of business. Granted, some are just suffering quietly, but the majority of the customers have no complaints, or just minor complaints not worth getting worked up over.

If I were to base my decision about any company from a forum like this, I would never choose any of them. But I dont do that because I realize that most happy customers, never post a thing. They simply go on the lives contently. For the most part, only those having a problem, make any big deal out of it and usually it is either an isolated issue, affecting a minor number of people, or it is blown way out of proportion.