Suggestions for Fios in the New Year
Tested
Enthusiast - Level 3

I posted this over on DSL reports too, but figured this was a good place to make the suggestions as well.  I'd love some reaction from the folks who work at Fios. 

1. Ditch FYI and find someone better to provide the guide data.

2. Add NASA-TV.  NASA-TV is now starting to provide some programming in HD and I think it would be a big draw.

3. Create a new category of english language news channels from around the world.  I'd love to get news from CBC, Sky News and several others.  (you can find a bunch of them on http://www.livenewscameras.com)

4. Make FSN provide a full-time HD feed.  Right now, it goes to an SD test pattern when HD programming is not on the air.  There's no reason they couldn't offer all the FSN programming on this channel with the side bars when HD is not on. 

5. Create a channel to advertise the latest features and programming on Fios.  I say this because we so often have to find out things here on this forum.  It would be nice if they'd tell us directly.  I'm not sure what their original idea for Fios 1 was, but it has yet to be rolled out to most markets. Maybe they could make channel 1 just such a channel. 

6. Fix the message light on the set top box.  The light never comes on when there's a message in the message center.  It always did when I had comcast.  I can't believe they can't figure out how to fix this. 

7. Streamline their websites.  In looking up information from Verizon regarding Fios, I have found I usually have to look at 3 or 4 websites to get it all.  There should be one website you go to for all your needs when you sign up with Fios.  I'm sure they'll tell you that's the case - but that has not been my experience.  There are a lot of good features of Fios that are online. (games, NFL network stuff, the ESPN360 access, etc)  They need to advertise this better.  It'll draw and keep subscribers if they do. 

8. Add an HD only tier.  Give people who want it the option of only watching HD programming for much less than they pay for the full Fios service. It would be pretty simple, if Fios has an HD channel, you get it on this tier.  That would include all the movie channels.  It would not include the NHL center ice channel or some of the other pay per view things.  Offer 100+ HD channels for 50-75 bucks or so and I think you would get quite a few takers even if that meant they couldn't get any SD programming. 

0 Likes
Re: Suggestions for Fios in the New Year
Justin46
Legend

My $.02 worth:

1. Strongly agree

2. Strongly agree

3. Agree

4. Strongly agree

5. Don't care

6. Agree (there have been multiple threads about this, apparently turning the light on in the past created panic among viewers)

7. Strongly agree

8. Strongly disagree (at least until all of the channels I watch are in HD...I have three TVs, of which only one is HD. While I know I can get an HD STB and view the HD channels on those SD TVs, I don't want to pay for an HD box for each of them. Now if Verizon would provide an HD-only tier and price the HD boxes the same as the SD boxes I might go for it)

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
IMG 1.6.0, Build 06.89
Keller, TX 

0 Likes
Re: Suggestions for Fios in the New Year
Tested
Enthusiast - Level 3

@Justin wrote:

8. Strongly disagree (at least until all of the channels I watch are in HD...I have three TVs, of which only one is HD. While I know I can get an HD STB and view the HD channels on those SD TVs, I don't want to pay for an HD box for each of them. Now if Verizon would provide an HD-only tier and price the HD boxes the same as the SD boxes I might go for it)

__________________________________

Here's the thing, I wouldn't subscribe to an HD only tier either.  I'm just saying it would be a good sales tactic.  I think you'll find plenty of people who only watch HD channels who would be quite willing to do just such a thing.   

0 Likes
Re: Suggestions for Fios in the New Year
Justin46
Legend

Tested,

I just don't think an HD-only tier is practical right now - extra cost to develop and support that tier, it would make the billing issues that some people seem to have worse (just imagine someone ordering the tier, finding out that the ONE channel they want to watch is not in HD, and calling the billing folks....), etc.

I think in a year or two, when there are fewer SD-only channels, that your idea has merit (and I should have said that, sorry). 

I am surprised you did not include on your list to either deliver a DVR with a larger hard drive or implement some kind of external drive support. I have the 6416 DVR, I definitely do record some stuff, but I am not a really big user of time-shifting, etc, and I even run low on space at times.

And one more thing, thanks for posting this list.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
IMG 1.6.0, Build 06.89
Keller, TX

0 Likes
Re: Suggestions for Fios in the New Year
Tested
Enthusiast - Level 3

@Justin wrote:

Tested,

I just don't think an HD-only tier is practical right now - extra cost to develop and support that tier, it would make the billing issues that some people seem to have worse (just imagine someone ordering the tier, finding out that the ONE channel they want to watch is not in HD, and calling the billing folks....), etc.

I think in a year or two, when there are fewer SD-only channels, that your idea has merit (and I should have said that, sorry). 

I am surprised you did not include on your list to either deliver a DVR with a larger hard drive or implement some kind of external drive support. I have the 6416 DVR, I definitely do record some stuff, but I am not a really big user of time-shifting, etc, and I even run low on space at times.

And one more thing, thanks for posting this list.


Thank you for reading.  🙂  You may be right about the cost of an HD tier.  I'm not that familiar with what all it takes to make such a thing happen.

As for the DVR: I didn't mention that because I know that Fios is rolling out new HD DVRs with 320gig hard drives and a faster processor.  I believe new customers are getting them now.  Others can request them, but it takes quite a while to get them.  I suspect they'll have enough on order by this time next year that most of us should be able to get them. 

0 Likes
Re: Suggestions for Fios in the New Year
KenAF
Specialist - Level 2

@Tested wrote:

Thank you for reading.  🙂  You may be right about the cost of an HD tier.  I'm not that familiar with what all it takes to make such a thing happen.

As for the DVR: I didn't mention that because I know that Fios is rolling out new HD DVRs with 320gig hard drives and a faster processor.  I believe new customers are getting them now.  Others can request them, but it takes quite a while to get them.  I suspect they'll have enough on order by this time next year that most of us should be able to get them. 


Note the new QIP7216 has the same 160GB hard drive and it does not have a faster processor.   The only significant difference between the QIP6416 and the QIP7216 is the addition of MPEG-4 / VC-1 support.  Verizon is also ordering all QIP7216 DVRs with the eSATA option for future use.


I have not read of any Verizon customers with >160GB storage, with obvious exception to those with a CableCard DVR like the TivoHD.

0 Likes
Re: Suggestions for Fios in the New Year
Techman28
Master - Level 1

1. Ditch FYI and find someone better to provide the guide data.

I can only say that a lot of the info from ESPN this past weekend was totally invalid.

2. Add NASA-TV.  NASA-TV is now starting to provide some programming in HD and I think it would be a big draw.

OH YEAH I'm ALL FOR THIS

3. Create a new category of english language news channels from around the world.  I'd love to get news from CBC, Sky News and several others.  (you can find a bunch of them on http://www.livenewscameras.com)

4. Make FSN provide a full-time HD feed.  Right now, it goes to an SD test pattern when HD programming is not on the air.  There's no reason they couldn't offer all the FSN programming on this channel with the side bars when HD is not on. 

Any HD feed any provider gets is from the actual channel so if they aren't broadcasting in it we won't get it. They also have to send it to us so that we can put it on the channel.

5. Create a channel to advertise the latest features and programming on Fios.  I say this because we so often have to find out things here on this forum.  It would be nice if they'd tell us directly.  I'm not sure what their original idea for Fios 1 was, but it has yet to be rolled out to most markets. Maybe they could make channel 1 just such a channel. 

I am going to look into this.

6. Fix the message light on the set top box.  The light never comes on when there's a message in the message center.  It always did when I had comcast.  I can't believe they can't figure out how to fix this. 

I just go into the message box and remove the messages however if they are still there I'd try a powercycle. I don't have this problem on any box at my house 😞

7. Streamline their websites.  In looking up information from Verizon regarding Fios, I have found I usually have to look at 3 or 4 websites to get it all.  There should be one website you go to for all your needs when you sign up with Fios.  I'm sure they'll tell you that's the case - but that has not been my experience.  There are a lot of good features of Fios that are online. (games, NFL network stuff, the ESPN360 access, etc)  They need to advertise this better.  It'll draw and keep subscribers if they do. 

I'm gonna say yes in regards to this but I think the services is what will keep subscribers the most and could keep more if they were steamline I'm a Yes/eh on this one.

8. Add an HD only tier.  Give people who want it the option of only watching HD programming for much less than they pay for the full Fios service. It would be pretty simple, if Fios has an HD channel, you get it on this tier.  That would include all the movie channels.  It would not include the NHL center ice channel or some of the other pay per view things.  Offer 100+ HD channels for 50-75 bucks or so and I think you would get quite a few takers even if that meant they couldn't get any SD programming. 

I'd Prefer not to pay extra for HD content and have it provided automatically 😉

Kudos!
0 Likes
Re: Suggestions for Fios in the New Year
CharlesH
Specialist - Level 1

I love my FiOS service personally, I really don't do any recording because I don't have a DVR...where I live, I've never had an issue with the guide.

I wish we got Motorola to fix the HDMI issue somehow, (even though it seems nearly impossible)

I want callerID on the TV screen.

I want more european channels for soccer! I would love all the SkySports channels!

A better VOD selection would be a plus aswell.

Thanks about it for me!

0 Likes
Re: Suggestions for Fios in the New Year
jake5975
Enthusiast - Level 3

I posted this on the other boards, so might as well add it here too:

Surprised nobody has mentioned the MR-DVR bug. Are others not experiencing this??

Just this weekend, watching a one-hour HD show in the bedroom (the MR-DVR is in the family room). 3/4 of the way through, got the message "maximum HD content reached" (even though the DVR was only 30% full) and then after that the dreaded "HUB" message. Both times, started from the beginning of the show.

This is a major issue, and needs to be addressed pronto by Vz.

0 Likes
Re: Suggestions for Fios in the New Year
Pyao
Contributor - Level 1

I just got FIOS triple play last week, coming from DishNetwork.

#1.  Strongly Agree. FIOS guide definitely needs improvement, on TV and on the web (although I am aware the direction they are taking is on the right step).    On TV allow smaller fonts and cram more information into the guide, on Dish I could see 2.5 hrs at a time and more channels.  On FIOS I see 1.5 hrs.     The detailed information display is confusing to the UI as it hides some other stuff.   If I need to see the detail of the show I could press INFO and have a pop up that displays as detail of a information as possible.

I have a difficult time trying to record "24" just with new series.  When I do (selecting All channels) it recorded old episoides on the Spy or Detective channel (maybe they are new to that channel).   On Dish I did not have this problem.  It will just record only new shows.

If I wanted to limit to FOX channel, I could not select FOX channel say record "24" because 24 isn't available on that channel.    I'll need to wait till 24 is available in the guide before I can program it.   This is a problem with some of the other seasonal shows that I have previously recorded.  I don't know if there is going to be a new season but if there are I'd like to record it ahead of time without having to track when a new show starts.

On the web, programming information doesn't tell me too much on the detail of each episode, when it was first broadcasted.   It diminishes the effectiveness of trying to record on the web (although I am able to see more information than from TV).

#9.  The placement of up/down page button is a bit awkward.  When you are in the guide you can go 4 different directions but to do up/down I have to stretch my thumb to use the buttons or use another hand to do it.  Ideally located is to the upper right hand within thumb's reach.

0 Likes