MLS Direct Kick Package for 2010
MiMeQu21
Contributor - Level 3

I was wondering if anyone had any information on whether Verizon would be offering the MLS Direct Kick Package for 2010.  Barring a strike, the season starts next week and I have seen no information on ordering the package.  The channels are still listed along with the NBA package in the 1400's. 

I was online with a customer service representative and she said there was no information available regarding the package.

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1 Solution

Correct answers
Re: MLS Direct Kick Package for 2010
MiMeQu21
Contributor - Level 3

As no one has posted lately, and it appears that games are on the Fios schedule, I am going to close out the email trail.  If there are any more problems, just start a new thread.

View solution in original post

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Re: MLS Direct Kick Package for 2010
MiMeQu21
Contributor - Level 3

As an aside, does anyone know how to get a Verizon moderator to answer your question?  I see that they answer select questions on this forum.

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Re: MLS Direct Kick Package for 2010
Celt1997
Enthusiast - Level 2

It would appear that at this time Verizon Fios will not have MLS Direct Kick available for 2010.  It is not shown on any of their website's sports packages, nor is there a place under my account to add the package.  In addition, the MLS website only lists Dish, DirecTV, and InDemand companies as offering it this season.


Thanks FiOS.  Explain to me again why I switched over?

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Re: MLS Direct Kick Package for 2010
matcarl
Master - Level 1

Verizon carried MLS last year, so why wouldn't they this year? They have a contract with In Demand.

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Re: MLS Direct Kick Package for 2010
MiMeQu21
Contributor - Level 3

It appears we may finally have an answer!!!

I emailed Verizon and then called them to confirm.  Here is the email I received:

Thank you for contacting the Verizon eCenter. I have received your
email dated 3/22/10 regarding the MLS Direct Kick programming platform.
My name is Vannessa, and I will be happy to assist you.

I apologize for the delay in my response, and I regret any inconvenience
to you.

The MLS Regular season is March 26, 2010 - November 15, 2010.

MLS Direct Kick Offers:

Regular Season (March 26, 2010 - July 31, 2010) ……………..$ 79.00

Half Season (August 1, 2010 - November 15, 2010) …………...$ 49.00

Installment payments are available for 3 months. You may not order the
programming until March 26, 2010.

I hope I have resolved your reason for contacting us. If you have
additional questions, or if we may be of assistance to you in the
future, please let us know.
We look forward to serving you.

Thank you for using Verizon. We appreciate your business.

So, we can't order anything until Friday, the 26th.  So, if you order between March 26 and July 31, you will get the full season for $79.

AS AN ASIDE, IF ANYONE AT VERIZON EVER READS THIS, YOU NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH THIS PACKAGE.  I realize that the soccer package probably does not get the orders that the baseball, basketball, or even hockey packages get, but nevertheless, the package should be advertised a few weeks before the season starts.  Even if we can't order it until March 26, why isn't it advertised on your website or in a promotional flyer in our bills?  If I didn't keep calling and bugging customer service, I may not have found the answer.  You shouldn't make it so hard to order the soccer package. 

For anyone who reads this, if you try to order the package this weekend and Verizon says you can't or the games don't show up on your tv, please post here so we can figure this out.  Thanks.

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Re: MLS Direct Kick Package for 2010
MiMeQu21
Contributor - Level 3

I guess I will wait to mark this as a "solution" email until I try to order the package on Friday and I actually get the games.

Another thing, Verizon will most likely have to use InDemand as that is the cable provider for sports packages.  InDemand is going a free preview weekend starting Friday.  I wonder if we will get the free weekend?

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Re: MLS Direct Kick Package for 2010
Carl
Specialist - Level 1

@MiMeQu wrote:

I guess I will wait to mark this as a "solution" email until I try to order the package on Friday and I actually get the games.

Another thing, Verizon will most likely have to use InDemand as that is the cable provider for sports packages.  InDemand is going a free preview weekend starting Friday.  I wonder if we will get the free weekend?


The free previews for Center Ice have been available on FiOS, so I don't think Direct Kick should be any different.

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Re: MLS Direct Kick Package for 2010
Flambake
Newbie

Logged into my account to try and buy MLS Direct Kick today and it is not an option. The season started yesterday, what is the holdup?

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Re: MLS Direct Kick Package for 2010
MiMeQu21
Contributor - Level 3

Well, it is Friday, March 26, about 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.  I am on the phone with Verizon as I type this to inquire about ordering the MLS Direct Kick Package.  It is in their system, and I have ordered it.  You can order in three installments ($26.33 for the first two months, $26.34 for the third month for a total of $79).  I am on hold right now because the customer service rep is inquiring as to why this package has not shown up on Verizon's website to order and why the games for this weekend are not listed in the Guide menu on your tv.  I went to the 1490's channels (that is the NBA/MLS package tv channels in my area) and there are no MLS games listed for tonight or tomorrow night, yet you can see which NBA games are listed for tonight and tomorrow night.  I asked the rep to find out why this is because I don't want to try to watch a game tonight or tomorrow to find the games not there.  With it being the weekend, I will be limited in whom I can call at Verizon to get this straightened out.  I don't know if tech support over the weekend can do anything about it.  I told the rep I was a little concerned that nothing has been listed.

The rep just got back on the phone with me.  She said that she checked with the Fios Solutions Center and they told her everything will be fine for tonight.  If I don't get the games for whatever reason, she gave me a number to call that is 24/7.  It is the Fios Solutions Center at 888-553-1555.

To answer the above quesiton, it appears you have to call to order the package.  You can't do it online.

If anyone else orders the package, please post here with your experience and if you were able to order the package or if they told you something different from what I posted.  Here's hoping the games come on this weekend!

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WARNING: READ THIS BEFORE ORDERING MLS DIRECT KICK PACKAGE FOR 2010
MiMeQu21
Contributor - Level 3

Hello to All,

I have posted to the other threads concerning the MLS Direct Kick 2010 Package.  On the other post, you will note that I placed an order for the soccer package this morning for $79.  The customer service rep even put it into three installments for me.  Anyway, I came home from work and looked for the soccer game for tonight (there is one scheduled for 10:30 eastern time on Direct Kick) and the games tomorrow (I wanted to particularly watch one at 4).  I saw there were no soccer games listed on the NBA LEAGUE PASS/MLS DIRECT KICK channels (in my area, they are channels 1490 to 1499).  The only games that came up were basketball games for tonight and tomorrow.  I called Verizon this evening and told them this.  They transferred me to the Fiber Solutions Center (I had thought that was who I had called with the 800 number listed on the other thread.  Not so.  That number is not the Fiber Solutions Center).  Anyway, the guy I talked to from Fiber Solutions couldn't find the soccer package in the system.  He was not sure what was going on, so he sent me back to customer service.  I did speak with a nice lady, but she was not sure what to tell me.  She did see the order I placed this morning.  After putting me on hold, she could not explain why the games are not on.  She thought that maybe basketball was pre-empting the soccer games.  I explained to her that there were 9 or 10 channels, so surely there was enough room for basketball and soccer?  She was not sure.  Anyway, I asked that she cancel my order.  She did (I will be verifying this on Monday when I call back).  At this point, she tried to sell me on HBO and Cinemax free for three months or free games on the internet for 14 days.  I told her not to offer me anything.  I felt I had been duped by Verizon and how could she try to offer me other services when I was obviously upset? 

Anyway, I wanted to post this to let everyone know to be very wary of ordering the soccer package.  Check your tv first and see if any games are listed on the Direct Kick channels. 

I find it disconserting that Verizon would take orders for a package that they can't even find in the system and that are not even showing up on the tv.  I also find it disconcerting that Verizon employees would still try to offer me other services when I was clearly agitated.

If anyone else orders the package and actually gets the games, please post here and let us know what channels you got them on and whether the games were actually listed in the tv guide.  When I go onto the NBA/MLS channels, I only get the option to order the NBA package.

On a final note, I wouldn't be so mad had I not gotten an email from Verizon telling me that I could order the package starting today (I posted the email in the other thread), then they take my order, then when I call to verify, they have no idea why the package is not showing up.

For anyone at Verizon who reads this, this is unacceptable.  If you wait again until April (like last year) to offer the MLS Package, that is garbage.  There are enough channels on the NBA/MLS channels that you can have basketball and soccer offered at the same time.  And anyway, basketball is still going on in April, so starting the MLS package now or in April makes no difference, other than we miss out on a month of games.  If you are not offering it anymore, take the MLS name off of the channels.  And don't let your employees take orders for the package until there is verification that it is being offered.

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