No Patriots game for Verizon FiOS customers today

Submitted by ImCaffeinated_Chris t3_y5ik4r in RhodeIsland

If you are planning to watch the Patriots game and are a Verizon FiOS customer, I've got bad news. Verizon and Nexstar are using customers as pawns in contact negotiations. Currently the channel for the game has an apologetic note from Verizon about the service.

After spending 30 min on hold, I confirmed it with Verizon customer service. They urged me too find alternative ways to watch the game.

I informed them that this is the last straw. If the Patriots game isn't available, I'm done with Verizon.

I hope no one had a football watch party planned for today.

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[deleted] t1_isk3dbh wrote

[deleted]

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Shades890 t1_islapx4 wrote

Another viable option is an adblocker and a streaming website which is what I have to do for the Bruins and Red Sox games since YouTube TV does not have NESN.

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scrooge_and_marley t1_isk0dki wrote

Rig up a digital TV antenna and get yourself set up for the next time this happens. Down here in South County, I can pick up both Providence and Boston stations and the picture doesn't have all of the compression artifacts that you get from cable.

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ImCaffeinated_Chris OP t1_iske91d wrote

Already have antenna up and watching. Agreed, no mpeg loss compression with antenna

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rlc327 t1_iskbhnm wrote

We're running a digital antenna at my house. Finding good reception was a pain but the picture is surprisingly good.

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SweatyCockroach8212 t1_islbd6g wrote

Customer: "This is bullshit that Verizon doesn't have WPRI!"
Verizon pays what WPRI wants and passes that cost on to the customer.
Customer: "This is bullshit that Verizon is increasing my rates!"

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techsavior t1_iskddo6 wrote

I haven’t used VZ or Cox for TV in years. I bought a roof-mount DTV antenna and use them for internet only. Haven’t looked back.

As for premium streaming, password-sharing (for the services that allow it) go a long way.

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Throwaway1231200001 t1_iskqh1v wrote

I literally just spent 20 bucks yesterday and bought a digital antenna. Same quality

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FAYCSB t1_isl5cam wrote

I wish my antenna worked at my house.

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rbless75 t1_isndywp wrote

In Westerly a few years ago all I could get were QVC and a few ION channels. Too far away from the broadcast towers for the networks, both in Providence and Hartford.

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shmoe598 t1_iskzzq3 wrote

YouTube.tv is the way to go

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SadCandidate6 t1_ismxah2 wrote

Paramount plus

Or I was able to watch the game through reddit r/nflstreams if you don't want to sign up for paramount plus.

Verizon is going to loose alot of business if this doesn't get fixed real soon

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Quick_Fennel_3244 t1_islcw8l wrote

Love my fios internet, and all my free nfl game with my fire tv kodi add ons. Was a good game!

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DoggyP93 t1_islj72u wrote

They also changed their services in the area so you can't drop the cable portion of your plan

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ApolloKid t1_ism7nil wrote

Just to clarify, you’re saying that if I currently have cable and internet through Verizon, I’m not able to drop the cable portion and have internet only through them?

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DoggyP93 t1_ism853y wrote

That is what I was told today when I went to drop the cable portion

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ApolloKid t1_ism8aru wrote

Interesting.. guess I’ll be dropping them altogether and switching to Cox?

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DoggyP93 t1_ism8l9x wrote

I am guessing it will change once the negotiation with nexstar is done, or if I call instead of using the chat feature on their website. Cox is even worse though

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cpjolicoeur t1_iso9m2w wrote

I dont think this is true, as I just dropped both cable and phone from my plan and only kept internet.

Are you under a contract with them? Maybe that is the case if you are under contract, because I wasn't under a contract, just month-to-month

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DoggyP93 t1_isodmu1 wrote

No they changed it Sunday morning

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cpjolicoeur t1_isoghqu wrote

Interesting. I did my change online via the website, not over the phone. Have you tried doing it online or in their app instead of via phone?

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decoysara t1_isln5ha wrote

Who still buys cable tho?

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kflanagan_9739 t1_ismzhoy wrote

I watched the game via paramount+. I went to put the game on, I saw that message and I put my PS4 back on.

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ases8089 t1_isju0in wrote

you can always watch Tom and get updates that way or follow the game thread here at r/patriots 😂

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ImCaffeinated_Chris OP t1_isjuvak wrote

I already pulled out the old digital antenna. We actually noticed the channel has a better picture over the air than thru FiOS! 🤣

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ases8089 t1_isjvqb5 wrote

😂 enjoy! i cant be bothered to do anything special just for one day- its a main channel it will be back soon

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Silentjosh37 t1_iskiisk wrote

It might be a while. Cable providers (all of them) and not that I feel bad for them, are seeing huge increases in their contracts with these channels especially the locals like 6,10, and 12 based on their corporate owners in this case Nexstar while at the same time moving content to their streaming services. Cable providers are getting push back from their customers about rate increases and some providers are just not willing to pass these higher rates on to their customers. Especially when the content is available for free over the air, yet cable providers are being asked for upwards of $6-$10 per sub for these channels. A lot of these channels have already by dropped by the likes of Dish. "Cable" TV is dying and these channel operators do not see the writing on the wall and are continuing to seek increases every year while viewership is going down. They have completely lost touch.

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ases8089 t1_iskjgw2 wrote

yea when i put fox on, before tampa bay started, there was a scroll that verizon was fighting with directv over fox too 😂 - i personally just like my cable and too many shows. idc about netflix or any of that bs. we've been with fios for many years-tv and wireless. my cable bill is only $140. so any streaming service plus internet is the same. plus i need top internet because i work from home. noone has yet been able to show me an app that works like cable -press power tv comes on, theres the guide, theres the dvr with ALL my shows - until someone can im not switching

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Silentjosh37 t1_iskk8p1 wrote

There are actually a few options out there/on the horizon that function very similarly to cable as it is now, they just don't always have all the content and that is a huge part of the problem. I put this more at the feet of the channel owners than the cable providers as they are the ones raising rates insane amounts. In some cases they are asking for almost 100% increases per sub and the cable companies are just stuck with it.

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ases8089 t1_iskkooq wrote

oh yea nexstar wants 64% rediculous.. and yes thats the problem - i talked to a guy yesterday that had TEN apps!! craziness!!

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Silentjosh37 t1_isklj6m wrote

...and this is the one you know about. There is also a bunch of other contracted must carry channels that they want too. Look at Rewind TV a channel that carries nothing but old ass shows and they wanted like $3 per sub.

There are too many apps to get a the channels you want. People have wanted "ala cart" cable TV channels for years and years and this is where it gets you.

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ases8089 t1_iskm9fz wrote

my dad has youtube tv and loves it but im pretty picky -still mad over cops leaving to paramount + 😂.. someone suggested roku to me but theres like 10 different options and i really dont get it. im an insurance person not IT ha

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Silentjosh37 t1_iskmmwd wrote

Yeah there is no one solution yet, its gonna be mostly like a YouTube TV or Fubo TV and then adding things like Hulu and paramount

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ases8089 t1_iskn1wg wrote

ugh! what a pain 😂 thank you!

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Silentjosh37 t1_isknbbg wrote

It sucks for the layperson for sure that doesn't know the ins and outs they just see stuff is gone.

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SharpCookie232 t1_isklzrj wrote

That's such bullshit. Unfortunately, Comcast is also garbage.

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Silentjosh37 t1_iskujzj wrote

Should direct your anger at Nexstar who wants a huge increase in their per sub rate. Not saying Verizon and Comcast aren't greedy but the channel provider are removing content and asking for more money which in turn would make your bill higher.

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