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Verizon FiOS Customers Lose The Weather Channel

Verizon FiOS customers are being informed they're losing The Weather Channel thanks to yet another programming fee feud. According to users in our FiOS forum, customers are being notified via their set tops and via e-mail that The Weather Channel is no longer in their lineup, and will be replaced with what Verizon's calling the "AccuWeather Network," on channels 119/619 and via a dedicated Verizon app.

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The notice being sent to subscribers fails to mention programming rates whatsoever:
quote:
Verizon’s agreements to carry The Weather Channel and Weather Scan have expired, and have not been renewed. In today’s environment, customers are increasingly accessing weather information not only from their TV but from a variety of online sources and apps. Verizon is therefore pleased to launch the new AccuWeather Network, which will be available on FiOSŪ TV on channel 119/619 (HD) and on our free FiOS Mobile App starting March 10, 2015.
Of course being tough in negotiations hasn't worked toward The Weather Channel's favor in recent months. The Weather Channel didn't have much luck holding DirecTV hostage for higher carriage rates last year, given that unlike most of these disputes, customers didn't appear to be missing the channel when it was pulled, largely because of its increasing focus on fluff. A deal was ultimately struck, but nowhere near TWC's asking price.

As with the DirecTV feud, many Verizon customers don't seem to bothered by the change. "The 619 is already 100% better, the current TWC "programming" was going to be that stupid Al Roker morning show crap," states one forum user. "Instead its...the actual forecast."

Update: Verizon sent me the following statement on the decision, which again avoids discussing The Weather Channel's carriage fee demands specifically:

quote:
Our desire to reduce overall content costs certainly played a role in the decision to not renew a carriage deal with TWC. But technology has dramatically shifted the delivery of both routine and critical weather information over the past 30 years or so. You can get forecasts, radar, warnings and more in the palm of your hand, on your laptop or over the TV. Apps like Weather Bug even let you choose that by zip code.

The decision allows us to provide a TV-based option with the new AccuWeather Network for customers who want to continue to access all weather, all the time weather information via FiOS TV while helping us toward the content cost goal. AccuWeather will bring its 50 year history of the world’s most experienced, most accurate, and trusted brand in weather news and information, used by over 1,700 TV and radio outlets, to our FiOS customers.

Most recommended from 80 comments



danclan
join:2005-11-01
Midlothian, VA

1 edit

8 recommendations

danclan

Member

Awwwwww....

Don't really care....I am actually looking forward to not hearing the hyperbole over every storm front that comes through...and the naming of winter storm fronts? Seriously TWC, get over yourself.
dewdude
pfSense on xcp-ng Asterisk geek
join:2010-03-27
Manassas, VA
·voip.ms
(Software) pfSense
(Software) DD-WRT

3 recommendations

dewdude

Member

Good Riddance