Share Your Ideas with Verizon

[#1]

I would love to be able to have a seamless transition to the VOD listings and menu's, BUT without losing the currently playing live TV and most importantly without losing the liveTV buffer.  

Because right now if you just want to browse VOD, it takes up both buffers (not really sure why it has to take over both buffers?) and you don't stay in liveTV.  

So basically I would love a more seamless VOD/liveTV, and a nice easy toggle method to change the listings from LiveTV-->VOD. 

I understand VOD runs on a separate lightwave from RF, but I have faith that you guys can create a better experience between the two. Thanks 

[#2]

Ran a check this evening. My VOD only takes 1 buffer (the channel you were on before you hit VOD).

Other channel buffered fine.

From what I understand, it would take a new box to do what you are asking. Current VOD design uses a tuner to broadcast data. The current STB only has two tuners. So you will have to give up one channel to watch VOD.

There is rumor of next generation boxes having 4 tuners.

But that still may mean you have to give up a channel to watch VOD.

[#3]

I haven't checked this out.  But I thought that you could continue recording 2 channels and watch a VOD.  If so that would mean that a tuner is not needed for this function.  I may test later after others in the family are not using the DVR.

[#4]

" But I thought that you could continue recording 2 channels and watch a VOD. "

     Actually, you can record 2 channels and watch a previously recorded show on the DVR. Maybe that's what you remember?

[#5]

The set tops can tune 2 video streams... some combination of live channels over RF and/or VOD over IP. When you launch the VOD portal you are tuning a promotional video stream, which takes up 1 "tuner". The only way to make this work is to remove the promotional video... but that helps people find VOD content (while maybe it doesn't help you... we definitely have data that shows it helps alot of folks).

[#6]

Finally re-tested the other day.  IF your are recording two channels, the promotional video is not shown and you can browse the VOD guide.  The recordings continue.  If you select a VOD to watch you are given the option to cancel one of the recordings or to to skip the VOD.

So Joe's comments are correct.

However I would like to see TWO changes.  

One the option to not see the Promotional video.  Its always talking about some PPV and I have never purchased a PPV, but rather use VOD to look for the many included Free or subscribed to Premiums.  Sometimes the same movie I tuned to looking to catch the movie from the start by selecting it on VOD.

Two, and somewhat easier to implement, select the older channel tuned to, so that if I decide against selecting a VOD the buffer for the channel I was on stays intact.  This is what happens when I normally chose to select another channel to watch briefly.

[#7]

Verizon says the promotional video helps people to know how to use the On Demand but realizes that not all of us need/want the video. You could create a second On Demand channel (such as 1900) with the same content and options but without the promotional video. I am not going to order an On Demand movie I have to pay for no matter how appealing it looks to me on the promotional preview. They say they are helping the viewers use on Demand, but they are really just helping with sales of more stuff, LOL.