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FiOSTV Tops Cable
Yet another survey doles out FiOS love

The praise keeps pouring in for Verizon FiOS, with a new survey from Changewave Research showing that FiOSTV has the highest customer satisfaction among TV operators. Verizon FiOS tops satisfaction rankings at 96%, followed by DirecTV (89%) and Dish Network (82%). Cable operators continue their traditional role as basement dwellers in such surveys -- but AT&T's U-Verse doesn't fare much better, tying with Comcast.

The report then tempers enthusiasm slightly when they bring out their crystal ball:

quote:
Click for full size
The verdict is still out on whether fiber optic will overtake satellite and cable as the service provider of choice. While the 85% fiber satisfaction rating is nothing short of phenomenal for a new service, it remains to be seen if the fiber rollout can stay on pace and customers remain satisfied as the market matures.

Importantly, while Verizon's TV service is now being marketed to nearly 3.9 million homes, that so far has translated into 515,000 current FiOS TV subscribers -- still a drop in the bucket compared to Comcast's 24.1 million customers.
One thing Verizon is going to have to eventually address is FiOS billing if they don't want to ultimately join their cable brethren in the satisfaction basement. Given that new entrants trying to gobble up market share have to work harder, phone companies ironically top cable operators at offering TV, while TV operators top phone companies at offering phone service.
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pcdebb
birdbrain
Premium Member
join:2000-12-03
Brandon, FL

pcdebb

Premium Member

happy..

/gives more love

i guess i'm one of the lucky ones to have not experienced the billing woes that i've read about.

ROCINANTE
Original Member 007
Premium Member
join:1999-06-29
Hartsdale, NY

ROCINANTE

Premium Member

Re: happy..

I don't know if anyone remembers the Verizon DSL fiasco back in the late 90's where customers had installation, connection, and billing issues, but the company seems to have learned from its mistakes and turned it around.

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536 to pcdebb

Premium Member

to pcdebb
Everyone loves verizon FIOS but verizon fios doesn't love everyone(read: why its only avail to limited areas)
caco
Premium Member
join:2005-03-10
Whittier, AK

caco

Premium Member

Just wait, give Fios a couple of years of

Price increases and billing problems and lets see what Changewave Research has to say.

Enjoy those high satisfaction ratings number while you can Verizon. That love will disappear once the rate increases start happening.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Just wait, give Fios a couple of years of

said by caco:

Price increases and billing problems and lets see what Changewave Research has to say.

Enjoy those high satisfaction ratings number while you can Verizon. That love will disappear once the rate increases start happening.
Already started: »Standalone FiOS Price Hike [30] comments

And more will come on a regular basis.

morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

morbo to caco

Member

to caco
no one said that fios wouldn't have price increases. just that it beats cable.

hayabusa3303
Over 200 mph
Premium Member
join:2005-06-29
Florence, SC

hayabusa3303

Premium Member

Wow

I kind of shocked by how bad time warner is ouch.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: Wow

Yeah - I've got co-workers that have gone through Comcast-->TimeWarner transition, and still have problems with HDTV. They never had issues with HDTV on Comcast.

What's interesting to note, is that Uverse is rated the same as Comcast

I'm waiting for Comcast Rick to jump in here.
Good to note that satellite still rates high (I'm on DTV).
Rick5
Premium Member
join:2001-02-06

Rick5

Premium Member

Re: Wow

Actually, the numbers speak much worse about uverse than they do about Comcast. Or, any of the cable co's for that matter.

With the cable co's. you are talking about a LOT more customers and so to completely satisfy even that many customers is quite a feat.
To understand how that works, look at even what a most popular president would get in terms of an approval rating.
They'd kill for a number over 70%.

Uverse, on the other hand, is much more comparable to Fios..at least in how it should be judged in this poll.
First, you're talking about both being new services..and both with supposedly the latest upgraded, advanced networks.
They're both bending over backwards trying to please their new customers. And obviously, only one is really succeeding at that.

Uverse, IMHO..is a total flop. And if their best full court effort to please 100,000 people can only produce these kinds of results..it's just one more example of that being the case.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: Wow

LOL... not that I don't disagree on some points (i.e. pushing to promote new service vs. maintaining it). I'd actually expect lower ratings from a new service with glitches and limitations vs. a mature cable service.

However, with the single stream of HD and only 6Mbps, you would think that there would be a lot more disappointed, especially with the limitations.
Cod2
join:2000-07-05
Kernersville, NC

Cod2 to Rick5

Member

to Rick5
said by Rick5:

Uverse, IMHO..is a total flop.

5000 new customers/installs per week beg to differ with your humble opinion.
Rick5
Premium Member
join:2001-02-06

Rick5

Premium Member

Re: Wow

C'mon now. You really don't think that this bloated piece of vaporizing copper is really going to make it, do you?

If you believe that, then you believe that the Titanic will be carrying passengers again in no time.

Don't you understand how soon Docsis 3.0 will be coming to a cable provider near you? Pewverse is finished man.
It is DOA out of the gate.

It's a 386sx pc in a world of Quad cores.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: Wow

The question becomes... do I want to
Cable + HSI + VoIP + cellphone
or
Uverse + upto 6Mbps (5.5Mbps?) + VoIP + cellphone and save a few $$$

The 2 issues surrounding Uverse
1. Single stream HD (more important to most that pay the bill)
2. 6Mbps down 1Mbps up max (important to those that typically don't pay the bill - i.e. teens).

Uverse gives an option... as does DirecTv.

Wether its a pair of copper from 1 block to a VRAD or RG-59 copper to a node... do I really care ?
Rick5
Premium Member
join:2001-02-06

Rick5

Premium Member

Re: Wow

there is not going to be a uverse. Docsis 3.0 will see to that.

The cable co's and fios will take the industry standards to 30 to 50Mb easily.
People simply will not want uverse and below speeds when that happens.

I understand the concept of better package pricing and not everyone wanting the top tiers.

But uverse..as it stands now..will be way below what would otherwise be considered a value tier.

Their only hope is that they can get the speeds raised..and perhaps they can for those close enough to the vrad.

But isn't the whole thing just smelling of a pieced together pile of outdated junk already?

It certainly is, IMHO.

WHY..this company continues to pursue this is WAY beyond me.

Verizon is the only one who is doing this right with their fios rollout.
itguy05
join:2005-06-17
Carlisle, PA

itguy05

Member

Must be alone

in that I'm actually OK with the service and prices Comcast provides me.

But then again, I've had DirecTV and Dish and they are all the same and cost about the same.
ltt75
join:2001-01-22
Hollis, NH

ltt75

Member

Charter

Hahahahaha.... Charter.. AHhahhaha

they do stink!
donjuan2002
join:2002-10-06
Kearny, NJ

donjuan2002

Member

Re: Charter

Typical of american view, we complain about out bills, what the point, is like complaining about taxes, taxes go up you do not get nothing, as long my service is great i do no mind an increase, not like comcrap increase nad service su..,

Pay check tax USA 27% you get nothing.
Pay check tax Europe 60% you get insurance, school. pay hospital, dentist. and some country college.

AS LONG I GET SOMETHING I DO NOT CARE ON THE INCREASE...

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: Charter

quote:
Pay check tax USA 27% you get nothing.
Pay check tax Europe 60% you get insurance, school. pay hospital, dentist. and some country college.
Canada is similar.
USA tax = pay for oil, pay for political influence (read US Army/Navy/Marines/Airforce)

old_dawg
"I Know Noting..."
join:2001-09-22
Westminster, MD

old_dawg

Member

Re: Charter

said by en102:
quote:
Pay check tax USA 27% you get nothing.
Pay check tax Europe 60% you get insurance, school. pay hospital, dentist. and some country college.
Canada is similar.
USA tax = pay for oil, pay for political influence (read US Army/Navy/Marines/Airforce)
Oh gawd, not this shite again!.
Hope you don't mind the wait for something of no small consequence (like say, a MRI) up there in Canada or any other socialized medicine nanny state. Bring a good book and
hope that brain aneurysm doesn't get worse in the mean tine.

Yup, let's just close down that mean old baby killing military too!, betcha you approved of the recent desecration
of the Vietnam War Memorial .

HarleyYac
Lee
Premium Member
join:2001-10-13
Allendale, NJ

1 edit

HarleyYac to donjuan2002

Premium Member

to donjuan2002
Hi,
Got to steal your quote for my sig:)
If you don't mind of course
Lee
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

huh, really?

Cablevision & Time Warner near the bottom of the heap?

huh, go figure..
Of course we're talking about the TV service & not broadband or phone service. We all know why Charter is at the bottom of the list.. virtually NO investment in upgrading their head-ends, high prices, poor quality of service. Can't run a cable company on a shoestring without being a virtual locked monopoly. They are ripe for competitors to come on in and force them out. It's quite another story with Time Warner and Cablevision...

morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

morbo

Member

Re: huh, really?

charter pricing is ridiculous. more than $50 for expanded basic?

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: huh, really?

Comcast wanted more than $50 for expanded basic here (before they dumped to TimeWarner), and did not allow 'access basic' (basic 13) packages here.

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536 to morbo

Premium Member

to morbo
said by morbo:

charter pricing is ridiculous. more than $50 for expanded basic?
Cox is up there too at $43/month for exp basic.
majortom1029
join:2006-10-19
Medford, NY

majortom1029

Member

question

How are these numbers acurate when they only surveyed only 1800 people? Dont these companies have huge footprints?

morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

morbo

Member

Re: question

that is plenty. in fact, 700-900 is probably plenty.

joekuz
join:2003-03-13
Calistoga, CA

joekuz

Member

Re: question

Unless I'm reading this wrong but it says of the 1,586 surveyed 25% have comcast and 1% have fios?? If that is right at least they could have a somewhat even amount of surveyers for each service.
jgantert
join:2004-06-02
Columbia, MD

jgantert

Member

Dropping Vz TV

Well, I'm dropping FiOS TV. The new interactive guide is just crap, and they can keep it.
proletarian2
join:2007-01-08
00000

proletarian2

Member

slightly skewed.

Those that are questioning the sample taken for the survey need to try a course in Statistics 101.

That being said, what will skew the results is the fact that FiOS is still a relatively new service just being deployed.

Many of your early adopters are those with a grudge against cable (or sat)- that's why they left in the first place. If they were happy with the service and pricing of cable, many would not have left to begin with.

danclan
join:2005-11-01
Midlothian, VA

danclan

Member

Re: slightly skewed.

said by proletarian2:

Those that are questioning the sample taken for the survey need to try a course in Statistics 101.

That being said, what will skew the results is the fact that FiOS is still a relatively new service just being deployed.

Many of your early adopters are those with a grudge against cable (or sat)- that's why they left in the first place. If they were happy with the service and pricing of cable, many would not have left to begin with.
in other words competition arrived and they discovered a better service at a better price and they bolted .....
Automate
join:2001-06-26
Atlanta, GA

Automate to proletarian2

Member

to proletarian2
said by proletarian2:

Those that are questioning the sample taken for the survey need to try a course in Statistics 101.
And maybe some people need to take Reading 101. Taken directly from the report: "While the sample of AT&T U-verse subscribers wasn't large enough to draw final conclusions"

JTRockville
Data Ho
Premium Member
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD

JTRockville

Premium Member

Great choices here!

The choices I have for TV are Verizon and DirecTV, which happen to rank #1 and #2 in Changewave's survey.

Good job guys!
Keep it up.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: Great choices here!

And I have DirecTv, Uverse and TimeWarner.
I'm on DirecTv for a number of reasons

techlte
join:2003-01-01
US

techlte

Member

I wish..

I just wish I could have it.. My choices are Comcarp who just added $12 to my bill over the last 4 months (same services) or BS/ATT and I don't like big brother so they're out.

Congrats FiOS and you lucky FiOS customers

Rob A
Adjusting
Premium Member
join:2005-01-17
Pompton Plains, NJ

Rob A

Premium Member

Fiber!

Bring it here! I'm getting sick of waiting.

Dominokat
"Hi"
Premium Member
join:2002-08-06
Boothbay, ME

Dominokat

Premium Member

Who cares

I don't care if it is number one with 100% satisfaction.
Who cares? I don't.
I don't get FIOS. Never have, never will.
FIOS is only in some areas. Never will be in mine. So I don't give a crap what it ranks.

Bootes
@verizon.net

Bootes

Anon

Re: Who cares

So why spend the time writing this? Just ignore the article if you don't care about Fios.
birhat
Premium Member
join:2005-04-08
Laurel, MD

1 edit

birhat

Premium Member

Love FIOS Internet FIOS tv not so much

Say what you will about Comcast but they have a good selection of on demand and also HD on demand and their media guide for tv is a hell of a lot better. FIOS tv was decent before they rammed the new IMG down my throat.Also the on demand content is not nearly as robust. With Comcast you have hd, encore, free movies etc on demand which fios doesn't.BUT man is fiber ever the way to go with internet.
JesNoFear
join:2003-02-12
Olney, MD

JesNoFear

Member

FiOS is great, but the speeds have been.....

I love my FiOS, but the past week I have noticed it slowing down.
I am going to call and complain later today.

NicholasG
@algx.net

NicholasG

Anon

Verizon FiOS and Service

FiOS may have great service (they're advertising it all over the DC) but according to the DC Examiner “The Office of the People’s Counsel this week asked the D.C. Public Service Commission to investigate and determine the cause of the ‘declining quality of service being provided to Verizon DC’s customers,’ and to establish ‘remedial measures necessary for Verizon DC to upgrade its network, improve its facilities and provide a high quality of service to its customers in the District of Columbia.”

»www.examiner.com/a-93420 ··· zon.html
Jah_rankin
join:2006-11-12
Clinton, MD

Jah_rankin

Member

Comcast is not sleep

I have inside information regarding technologies that'll be offered by Comcast in near future, all that left for Fios will be returning, or wish they never had left. I don't work for Comcast or is under any obligation to sell such product, believe you me the media Giant isn't sleep.