Verizon Pulls Sports From New HD Channel Bundle Follows DirecTV in Charging Regional Sports Fee Thursday Jan 24 2013 17:56 EDT Tipped by Tcomp Last month DirecTV became the first TV operator to start charging customers an extra fee for subscribing to more than one sports network. DirecTV started charging users a $3 "Regional Sports Fee" if they live in markets where there's more than one regional sports network. The move is seen as DirecTV testing the waters for eventually breaking out sports programming prices separately, since it's by far the largest programming cost passed on to consumers. Now Telecompetitor directs our attention to the fact that Verizon has started tinkering with sports-related pricing. According to a Verizon blog post, Verizon has also started charging users a $2.42 per month for regional sports networks. Their new $50 (unbundled) FiOS Select HD package also trims sports networks out of the equation: quote: Consumers interested in TV service, but not wanting to pay for more than they need have a new option starting today. Our new FiOS TV Select HD package provides more choice programming and at a great value. With access to the most popular genres -- with the exception of sports of any type, TNT, FOX News, Travel Network and a few other notables -- consumers will enjoy top-rated channels like Disney, Nick, Cartoon Network, CNN, MSNBC, The Weather Channel, The Discovery Channel, USA, TBS, AMC, FX, BET, Bravo, Food Network, HGTV, TLC and more, plus access to thousands of video on demand titles, and at an affordable price.
Unfortunately sports aren't the only thing that get the axe, the new bundle also excludes popular channels like Comedy Central. It's an interesting proposition that I think you'll probably be seeing a lot more of, and it's a welcome bit of channel flexibility for an industry that has long fought such a shift. |
clone (banned) join:2000-12-11 Portage, IN
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clone (banned)
Member
2013-Jan-24 4:51 pm
I enjoy sports...As do most "average joe" pay TV subscribers. The people who post on these forums that have no interest in sports are the minority, and that's why sports networks are always included in basic cable.
I have no problem with the providers charging you guys less for packages without sports, but charging ME more for something I've always received isn't progress, it's a rate hike. | |
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