RedZone channel deactivated - FCC violation?

[johnh10315]

I have the FIOS Ultimate HD plan which includes the NFL RedZone channel.  I have been receiving the RedZone channel without problem since November, 2011.

Sometime between 8pm on Sept 22, 2013 and 1pm on Sept 29, 2013, Verizon deactivated the RedZone channel at my home.  Yesterday, Sept 29, I was on the phone with cusomer support for 2 hours (mostly on hold) trying to resolve this problem.  Eventually I was told that Verizon can not provide the RedZone to me with my hardware setup.  I've had no change in hardware since Novemeber 2011.

Verizon says the culprit is my Tivo and their CableCard  and that they can no longer allow RedZone through TIVOs with CableCards.  I believe this is a violation of FCC Rule 76.1205(b)(5) and intend to file a complaint.

Has anyone else experienced this same issue recently?

[walt178]

Read the following for background on your issue. 

http://pr.tivo.com/press-releases/tivo-petitions-fcc-to-reinstate-cablecard-customer-1034638

[tns2]

Wow the rule was vacated.  Bad news for those using such equipment unless it is reversed.

[sails4000]

I also just spent 2 hours on the phone with tech support. They don't think it's an issue with Tivo/cable card support. Rather as a TiVo user we can't activate the channel from our boxes. After getting off the phone, they said someone would activate it manaually for me and it should work within 48 hours. I'll let you know if it works.

Another oppition is to watch it on Apple TV or an iPad using the NFL Network App.

[sails4000]

I can comfirm I got RedZone to work with a TiVo, Cable Cards on Verizon. It took another call and a very patient billing rep, but it is resolved and working. For some reason on 9/24 something changed on my account. Nothing that I did, but RedZone was removed from my account. This is dispite having the Ultimate Package which includes RedZone! The billing rep was able to login to my account and reactive the RedZone for me.

If you are having this issue, push the rep to look for recent account changes.

[johnh10315 · Accepted solution]

Thanks for all of the replies.  After 5 phone calls and over 4 hours on the phone over a 3 day period, the RedZone channel was finally restored to my system.  Having to spend 4 hours on the phone was most exasperating as was not having the channel on Sunday Sept 29th.  

What was also irritating was the myriad of reasons that were given for the problem, that all proved to be incorrect e.g. 1) my plan doesn't include RedZone, 2) RedZone doesn't work with my Tivo/cablecard combo, 3) my coaxial cable needs to be reversed wall to device, 4) I deleted the channel myself & 5) A verizon system change deactivated it & it can't be reactivated.

The last verizon rep,  who actually fixed the problem, did not tell me what he did to re-activate it, but he was the third rep to tell me confidently that he had taken care of it.

Anyway, its back up and running.

Thanks.