Topic 'New TV Package: Select HD' in forum 'Verizon FIOS TV' - dslreports.com

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:57:08 EDT

aaronwt posted : But now if they would have a non sports package that included more channels that people want. Every package omits certain popular channels which is why I subscribe to the Ultimate HD tier. Even though I can do without the sports channels and the premium channels. Although the RedZone channel is nice.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:16:18 EDT

bohratom posted : I do appreciate Verizon offering a FIOS package that does not include sports... That is a good start for families that do no require them.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 23:13:06 EDT

anon posted : I would like VZ to offer an HD only package. I live in the VHO8 area and never watch anything other than HD.... with the exception of TCN (ch99) on RARE occasion. I'm not sure this would save me a few bucks, but the SD channels are worthless to me.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:30:25 EDT

rtcy posted :

said by nfotiu:

I really like the idea of this, but they are ditching at least 20 dollars of carriage fees by taking out those sports channels, probably closer to 30.

It should really be at least 20-30 dollars cheaper than Prime.

that's my real concern. my subscription is up, according to me and the web site(long story last time I called in and bitch they gave me a discount of 5 until may this year and according to the CSRs my plan is not up until may ? )

so anyway, it looks like my prime plan is going up 15.00 dollars 5.00 for the first 3 months and the rest after.

so I see a new article by accident about this new plan, go check it out(thier web site won't let me look at it as long as I'm logged in, figures) and notice it's 5.00 cheaper than my current OLD price but they dropped some channels that are not spot related, and one or 2 are my wife's "like" channels

so I'm totally confused, I also waited online with a tech to turn off my multi room feature as I'm going to send back 2 more boxes, when he hung up it was supposed to send me back to the original lady that was going to give me a discount. so that probably went out the window. now need to ck if they really dropped the multi room

remaining just as confused and pi--- at Verizon as ever.

they took out CSPAN is that not a free must carry channel for public service?

comedy central like it
spike once in a while it's ok
tnt """""""""""""""""""""""""""
travel so-so
vh1 classic & soul like it
we wife likes it

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 08:52:55 EDT

knarf829 posted :

said by Acct101:

Other people can not because of the rules in their development.

Not true:
»www.fcc.gov/guides/installing-co···e-dishes

said by Acct101:

I liken the cable industry to the gasoline industry where you can have three stations on the same intersection and all three offer the same prices. It's imperfect competition.

...or they're providing a similar product with similar costs and are pricing the product to sell to a similar demographic in a similar location.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 08:30:38 EDT

urkelOs posted : Pricing structure is not purely based on service either; otherwise, VZ would charge extra for HD vs. SD feeds of identical content.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 04:55:40 EDT

Acct101 posted : Do places really have more then one type of cable serve offered to them? Remember, there are places, for a variety of reasons, that people cannot get satellite service. I'm in that situation because I have trees in my yard which block the line of sight. Other people can not because of the rules in their development.

I do have C* in my area, and since Verizon came around in 2009, their customer service I am told, has gotten better. But when you look at the pricing, it's about the same.

I liken the cable industry to the gasoline industry where you can have three stations on the same intersection and all three offer the same prices. It's imperfect competition.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 19:03:45 EDT

knarf829 posted : There are already laws against anti-competitive behavior. If you feel your rights have been violated in this respect, bring action against those who have violated them.

Back here in the real world, I'm having trouble thinking of an industry that is more competitive than home delivery of entertainment video. You have two satellite companies. You have a cable company. A lot of places have more than one "cable" type company. You have Hulu Plus. You have Netflix. You have Amazon Instant Streaming. For movies there is Vudu.

Cable and satellite companies have the challenge of bringing people the content they want using the technology they prefer at a price they're willing to pay. This model developed because this is the model that best delivers that.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 14:10:50 EDT

nfotiu posted : You can spout all your libertarian ideologies you like, it doesn't mean you are right. I see the government's role to prevent anti competitive practices that threaten free commerce. When all suppliers work together to ensure you can only get cheap products if you buy the much more expensive ones then to me that is anti competitive.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:43:00 EDT

opinionmine posted : You're obviously confused, and I will respond no further to you.

Where did I seek Governmental intervention?

I look at this issue through two conflicting eyes. As a consumer and as an investor. I've owned stock in Comcast for a couple of years. The games these companies play has benefited me financially much more then I would pay in service in many many decades, and that's all good.

As a consumer I dislike what they do.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:31:57 EDT

knarf829 posted :

said by opinionmine:

Seriously? You need proof?

You are not aware that one pays more for one tier then another?

You're not aware that the difference between tiers is content not "service"?

So just go ahead and show me the charges broken out for the individual content and we'll be all set. Show me your Music channel charge and your home improvement channel charge and your news channel charge. Show me individual channel charges.

And, if this is true and you're already charged based on content and not access, exactly what's the problem your crying to the government to rush in and solve? Individual line-item charges? Seriously?

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:29:57 EDT

TitusTroy posted : cable companies will never fully tier your channels based only on what you want to watch...then it would almost be an a la carte service...they need you to pay for channels that you don't watch...that's how they make $$

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:19:43 EDT

opinionmine posted : Seriously? You need proof?

You are not aware that one pays more for one tier then another?

You're not aware that the difference between tiers is content not "service"?

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:10:50 EDT

knarf829 posted :

said by opinionmine:

That's patently absurd.

OK prove me an idiot and post the PDF of your bill for CNN, FX and Discovery HD programming. Or Cartoon Network (either SD or HD will be fine). Or MTV (again 1,2,Hits, Jams, whichever).

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 12:31:19 EDT

opinionmine posted : That's patently absurd.

If one was not paying for content there would not be different tiers.

More absurd is the seeming arbitrary randomness of that content in the first couple of tiers.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 12:19:43 EDT

knarf829 posted :

said by nfotiu:

And you are ignoring the fact that the government is not already hip deep in this, and has played a pretty big part in creating this mess. Look up the FCC forcing North Carolina cable companies to carry MASN even though not enough people were watching it to even register in the ratings.

So when the government screws something up the answer is more government? I'm sure they'll get it right this time.

Classic.

No one is paying any amount for any programming except HBO, Showtime, etc. Cable TV customers are paying for a service, not for content. You're paying for access.

Man, I went to that concert and paid $70 for songs I don't like and only $10 for songs I do like. What a ripoff.

said by matcarl:

It's true though, this package is being promoted as if it just excludes the sports channels. There are several others missing.

This I'll agree with. They should not market it as their sports-free solution. They should market it as a budget package stripped of the most expensive content.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 12:03:55 EDT

matcarl posted :

said by opinionmine:

I was writing personally.

CNBC, for one example, is indispensable to me.

But that's not the point. We watch maybe 10 cable channels in total but pay for hundreds we never watch. That's the way it is and everyone accepts that fact.

Here specifically Verizon is attempting to sell this package as a package without sports. Something that to me, at least, would be attractive. But, that's not what it is, it's a package without sports and so much more. Why take Comedy Central and financial networks out of that package unless your are engineering the package to seem attractive to non sport fans but in actuality make sure it becomes less attractive for other reasons.

It's true though, this package is being promoted as if it just excludes the sports channels. There are several others missing. They should have made two new packages then.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 11:54:14 EDT

nfotiu posted : There are examples across the board in all sports in all areas. Fact is that a hundred million people are paying 200-300 dollars a year to sports programming they don't watch, and are forced to pay it if they want cable tv.

And you are ignoring the fact that the government is not already hip deep in this, and has played a pretty big part in creating this mess. Look up the FCC forcing North Carolina cable companies to carry MASN even though not enough people were watching it to even register in the ratings.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 11:22:32 EDT

knarf829 posted :

said by nfotiu:

I think that there are more than just a couple lonely people who don't watch sports. Only one out of a hundred people paying $60 a year for the new Dodger's deal actually watch Dodger's game.

The "lonely single" aspect was to represent that his packages wouldn't need to include anything other than his specific one-man narrow interests because he has no family. Not that only lonely people don't like sports.

You are aware that there are teams other than the Dodgers and sports other than baseball, right? And not all of them take place in one of the largest and most expensive TV markets.

said by nfotiu:

The easy thing to do is legislate any channel with a carriage fee over 50 cents or a dollar must be offered a la carte, and treat them the same as HBO, Showtime, etc. By my last research, I think that would only include ESPN, RSNs, TBS and TNT.

No reason they shouldn't be treated the same when they are now charging more than some of the premium channels.

Oh, goody. More government.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 11:16:30 EDT

nfotiu posted : I think that there are more than just a couple lonely people who don't watch sports. Only one out of a hundred people paying $60 a year for the new Dodger's deal actually watch Dodger's game.

The easy thing to do is legislate any channel with a carriage fee over 50 cents or a dollar must be offered a la carte, and treat them the same as HBO, Showtime, etc. By my last research, I think that would only include ESPN, RSNs, TBS and TNT.

No reason they shouldn't be treated the same when they are now charging more than some of the premium channels.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 10:40:39 EDT

knarf829 posted :

said by nfotiu:

For the record, I am a sports fan, and would subscribe to the channels of my teams. I just think this whole sports business model is bordering on corruptness and needs to be changed one way or the other.

Guess what - once you guys successfully jettison sports channels to pricey a la carte status, something else is going to be "the most expensive content" and calls to excise that content to its own package will commence.

It will end as it did in my example, with maybe some lonely single dude somewhere who hates sports paying less than he does now, but families of members with diverse interests paying much more. The majority of cable subscribers are families with members of diverse interests. They'll lose.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 10:35:25 EDT

nfotiu posted : The problem is the handful of sports channels are totaling about $20-$30 a month in carriage fees, whereas the rest of the hundred or so channels together are probably less than 5 bucks.

Also complicating things is the government is already involved, and in many cases forcing the cable companies to carry sports networks they don't want to carry, and to carry them in their basic tier.

Vertical integration is the other factor that is taking away from the competitive balance.

Not saying that government intervention is necessarily the answer, as I think this model will come crumbling down on its own.

This whole system though is distributing wealth in a way that is probably not the healthiest though. LA Dodgers are now making $350 million a year on a tv deal. Considering an average of only 50,000 people watch those games, it is siphoning a hugely disproportionate amount from cable tv subscribers to baseball players, owners and others getting their cut along the way.

For the record, I am a sports fan, and would subscribe to the channels of my teams. I just think this whole sports business model is bordering on corruptness and needs to be changed one way or the other.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 10:02:44 EDT

opinionmine posted : I was writing personally.

CNBC, for one example, is indispensable to me.

But that's not the point. We watch maybe 10 cable channels in total but pay for hundreds we never watch. That's the way it is and everyone accepts that fact.

Here specifically Verizon is attempting to sell this package as a package without sports. Something that to me, at least, would be attractive. But, that's not what it is, it's a package without sports and so much more. Why take Comedy Central and financial networks out of that package unless your are engineering the package to seem attractive to non sport fans but in actuality make sure it becomes less attractive for other reasons.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 09:53:13 EDT

knarf829 posted :

said by opinionmine:

The NYT yesterday had a piece about how sports programing is raising prices significantly even for people who watch no sports.

There is even a call for governmental intervention.

When is there not? Two dudes went to a government court against Subway because some of their footlongs were 11 inches. Calls for government action have ceased to be indicative of there being an actual problem.

said by opinionmine:

The status quo remains, if you want/need some popular and other indispensable channels you are still forced to pay for sports you don't watch.

There are television channels that are "indispensable?" That's an interesting view.

I'm forced to pay for hundreds of channels I don't watch. We all are. We're buying a service, not specific programming on that service.

So we go all a la carte and start paying for each channel. But wait, why should I pay for an entire channel when there are - like - only 3 series on that channel that I actually watch? Why is the channel the bottom line? Why is Verizon forcing me to pay for series I don't watch just to get the series on that channel that I do watch?

So now we're paying for just the actual series that we watch. But wait, this particular episode of a series doesn't hold my interest. Why should I pay for episodes I don't like of a series that I do like in order to have access to the series at all? I mean, on Amazon I can pick and choose which episodes I want to see. Why is Verizon ripping me off by making me pay for an entire series when I only want some of the episodes.

So now we're down to paying for just individual episodes of series that we like on channels that we like, free from any cost for anything that may not be of interest to us. But wait, each highly targeted incredibly relevant-to-me episode of these series is, like, $2.99. If I watch three shows a day for a month, that's $269. Gosh, I wish someone would bundle together all of these episodes, series and channels into affordable packages so I could cut down on some of my costs. I wish I could just turn on my TV and flip through hundreds of available channels instead of always having to decide exactly what I want to watch all the time.

If you want to pay for specific programming, cut the cord and get a Roku. Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Streaming are all there.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 09:19:51 EDT

opinionmine posted : The NYT yesterday had a piece about how sports programing is raising prices significantly even for people who watch no sports.

There is even a call for governmental intervention.

This new offer from FIOS, described as a cheaper sports free package, is cited.

Such an offer would be great and we would switch immediately. Except that it's not true, Verizon is being duplicitous.

This new package does not just eliminate sports, it also eliminates channels that couldn't be further away from sports. From Comedy Central to news and financial networks are missing from this so called "non sport" package.

The status quo remains, if you want/need some popular and other indispensable channels you are still forced to pay for sports you don't watch.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:24:29 EDT

nfotiu posted : I really like the idea of this, but they are ditching at least 20 dollars of carriage fees by taking out those sports channels, probably closer to 30.

It should really be at least 20-30 dollars cheaper than Prime.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:19:09 EDT

QuaffAPint posted : I still don't understand why this new package includes BBC America, while Prime does not.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:38:34 EDT

birdfeedr posted :

said by Acct101:

It would be interesting to see if a ton of people downgrade to this plan and the effects that has on the other "sports" laden packages.

Last September I went from Extreme to Prime to shave a few bucks off. I looked at this new plan, but they shaved 4 of my "only 6 non-local channels watched", so it's a non-starter.

I'll save it as an almost vote with my wallet when it's time to make a choice.

When sports channels are in an optional package across the board, then I'll believe greed is taking a back seat to sensible. Don't argue with me on this, you'll never change my mind. TV is almost an optional package as it is with all the dreck that's out there.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 07:51:33 EDT

Acct101 posted : It would be interesting to see if a ton of people downgrade to this plan and the effects that has on the other "sports" laden packages. Somebody has to pay for those expensive sports channels.

I for one could live without ESPN. The hip hop type of coverage to me is a turn off.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:14:18 EDT

Jackarino posted : So, this is Verizon's "economy" plan
--
Romney - Ryan 2012
Christie 2016

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:07:25 EDT

JackBauer posted :

said by kathyndan2:

They dropped FOX News and CNBC. I like a variety in my news not just liberal news.

Fox apparently has pricing power due to their domination in cable news.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:34:13 EDT

tennisman94 posted :

said by kathyndan2:

They dropped FOX News and CNBC. I like a variety in my news not just liberal news.

Apparently liberal talk is cheaper, or has less restrictions on it. (ie. you must carry both Fox News and Speed or neither)

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:34:45 EDT

anon posted : They dropped FOX News and CNBC. I like a variety in my news not just liberal news.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:58:45 EDT

Xela19115 posted :

said by Acct101:

I totally agree. I dropped my package from Ultimate to Prime a few weeks back, cut out the premium channels, sent back a couple of boxes and I am saving $70+ a month. I would drop to Select, but I could not give up CNBC and my wife loves Lifetime Movies.

I wish we could just pick and choose the channels we wanted. My house only cares about the locals, Weather channel, CNBC, Lifetime, QVC and the History Channel. Everything else is garbage. Especially the movie channels where they show the same movie OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

Did the same thing last June when my contract was up and went month to month without ETF instead of another 2 year contract with ETF. I'd drop to Select HD as well but they removed some good kids channel vs. Prime HD as well as my wife does watch those LMN and WE channels so that stays.
--
xela19115

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:02:11 EDT

Greg2600 posted : I've close to giving up on HBO myself, an utter ripoff with almost no watchable movies and an ever dwindling lineup of watchable series. I love Showtime though.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 19:50:04 EDT

Acct101 posted : I totally agree. I dropped my package from Ultimate to Prime a few weeks back, cut out the premium channels, sent back a couple of boxes and I am saving $70+ a month. I would drop to Select, but I could not give up CNBC and my wife loves Lifetime Movies.

I wish we could just pick and choose the channels we wanted. My house only cares about the locals, Weather channel, CNBC, Lifetime, QVC and the History Channel. Everything else is garbage. Especially the movie channels where they show the same movie OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:19:35 EDT

QuaffAPint posted : Just today I lowered from Extreme to Prime - When I looked at it, there's nothing really on Extreme I watch often enough - other than BBC America - Saves $20/month and I can get BBC America stuff through my other services.

I wish Select HD really was just Prime minus Sports - but you lose a bunch of other stuff too. With so much available through other means, there isn't a great a need to have all these zillion channels.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:01:25 EDT

wmcbrine posted :

said by MURICA:

A TV package that offers less HD? I thought that was Verizon's existing channel lineup :D

With all the complaints about "no new HD" on this forum, I gained a little perspective the other day when I read this:

»www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/sh···t=499899

"There are a handful of decent channels (like Comedy Central, Lifetime (for my wife), HGTV, and others) that are still analog only."

Different person: "My cable co still has 40-50 analog only channels. Only a few I watch, like Comedy Central, FX, A&E and all of the 24 hour news channels ..."

All of the above are HD on Fios.
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09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:13:59 EDT

IanR posted : As they say this package might well suit non sports viewers.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:07:29 EDT

Steely posted : Looks like they jacked up prices on some of the premium channels. HBO standalone was $16.99/mo last week, now it's $18.99. Starz/Encore also went up a couple of bucks.

Re: New TV Package: Select HD

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:24:55 EDT

MURICA posted : A TV package that offers less HD? I thought that was Verizon's existing channel lineup :D

New TV Package: Select HD

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:18:16 EDT

matcarl posted : Verizon has a new TV pacakge available today which offers less channels than Prime HD at a lower price. It can also be bundled.

»forums.verizon.com/t5/Verizon-at···p/527531