Package Change, no Universal Sports HD ch: 596

[doogie1303]

This morning 1/31/14 went to tune to the Universal Sports HD channel (596) I got a screen telling me that I need to order the "Sports Pass" to get this channel when it work yesterday 1/30/14.  I have the "Extreme Package" and this channel was in our package (up till yesterday).

I find it too much of a coincidence that this channel along with several other sport channels (like espn classic) were dropped from our package two days before the SUPER BOWL, and one week before the OLYMPICS, and made part of an exclusive sports package that you have to pay extra for. In my opinion, thats a low blow.

Granted I don't always watch Universal Sports HD, but had been watching it more with my kids as they had been covering alot of the olympic trials. Since this channel is also part of NBC UNIVERSAL, they probably would also be covering some of the OLYMPIC events. Now my kids are dissapointed that they can't watch it.

I am dissapointed that verizon FIOS would change a package line up without even a warning to customers that they were going to loose channels. I already pay for the Extreme Package which is the second highest package, and now you want me to pay more to get what I used to have? This just shows you Verizon FIOS is more interested in making a buck then caring about their customers. My budget is already stretched to the limit, I can't afford to shell out more money for channels that I used to get and will watch only sometimes.

My contract with FIOS is up in July, and I will seriously consider looking at other providers for TV and Internet. I signed a two year contract to lock in service and now their making changes. If I had switched providers before the two years were up, I would been hit with a "Fee" for breach of contract, but isn't it also a breach of contract when they (FIOS) make changes that are detrimental to the service that I signed a contract for?

[nfox423]

This happened to me last night as well.  We were watching alpine skiing in the evening last night, then moved to the bedroom and wanted to catch some more winter sports before bed.  It ticked past midnight and we were told we were not subscribed to it.  I called and spent an hour on the phone (until 1:30a) trying to figure out what happened.  No one could give me an answer.  Their call forwarding system wasn't working (that's convenient) so they gave me the number for their retail department...I decided to call it a night and will follow up this evening.

This is incredibly frustrating since I signed a contract for service with a certain set of channels.  Having them change the content of the contract I signed seems wrong, and I'll argue that on the phone today.

[sangs1]

You can argue it all you want, but this is cut and pasted directly from their Terms of Service:

Changes to Service or Features. Verizon reserves the right to change any of the features, Content, equipment authorized by Verizon for use in connection with the Service, or applications of the Service at any time with or without notice to you. This includes the portal services we may make available as part of the Service or for an additional charge.

I'm in no way condoning what they've done, but you really have very little recourse. You might get them to throw a credit or two your way if you're nice about it though.

[roaddogg1]

Have either of you who had the issues tried rebooting your stb/dvr and router? Its probably nothing more then a glitch.

[The7wolfs]

I am in complete agreement with your situation as the same has occurred for us. Why are they allowed to change? We feel pretty much blackmailed into paying for the channel for the month just to watch Olympic coverage. Sounds like something a attorney would love to work on and teach Verizon a lesson. That is the only thing that will get Verizon's attention.

[sangs1]

Again, it's in the Terms of Service, which we all agreed to before activating our FiOS services. You have no legal recourse. Sorry.

[DiscerningViewr]

Very disapointed that while watching alpine skiing last night Universal Sports channel 596 suddenly disappeared and the screen informed us we needed to now subscribe to obtain this channel.   I signed up for FIOS Extreme HD solely for the purpose of viewing this channel as our family is a major fan of out-of-the-spotlight-but-just-as-impressive sporting events. I reviewed my last few Verizon bills but there was no advance warning that this channel would be dropped or altered.  Very dissatisfied with how Verizon operates and will be shopping around for another bundle provider, unfortunately not in time to view the Winter Olympics coverage on Universal Sports. 

[jss9669]

I'm not sure about the Extreme package, but I know there is an issue with the Ultimate package when it comes to the Sports Pass channels.  With Ultimate, you may have to go to the channel and attempt to order Sports Pass through your TV.  It will then tell you that there is no charge for the Sports Pass channels and you'll be able to watch.  This has happened to me twice in the past several months.  This may be the case with Extreme too but I'm not familiar with what's included in the package.

As for Universal Sports, they are carrying a lot of the Olympic trials, but they aren't carrying any live coverage of the Olympics.  Anything they do show will have already aired on other NBC channels.  Most of the live coverage is on NBCSN (channel 590).  The broadcast schedule is now up on the NBCOlympics website.

[bramweiser]

Count me as one more Verizon FiOS customer who's dissatisfied with the apparent(!) removal of Universal Sports (ch596) from the Extreme tier.

I, too, enjoyed watching it while it was there in recent weeks/months and hope that this situation is either a mistake or bug of some kind that will indeed be fixed very soon, or that Verizon made this decision intentionally but quickly reverses it, please, and brings the channel back for those of us on the Extreme tier that used to receive, and enjoy, it.

(UPDATE:  I just visited http://www.verizon.com/home/fiostv/#plans-channels and saw that, apparently, Universal Sports is gone from ALL tiers as it appears nowhere in the channel listing there {for my NYC zip code, at least}.  This makes me wonder why that would've happened, and what would've led up to it taking place.  I hope that's a typo of some sort but fear that it might not be...)

[sangs1]

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@bramweiser wrote:

(UPDATE:  I just visited http://www.verizon.com/home/fiostv/#plans-channels and saw that, apparently, Universal Sports is gone from ALL tiers as it appears nowhere in the channel listing there {for my NYC zip code, at least}.  This makes me wonder why that would've happened, and what would've led up to it taking place.  I hope that's a typo of some sort but fear that it might not be...)

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I'm on Ultimate and it's still working here, not that I ever watch it.