FiOS program guide can't be trusted
lawhoo
Newbie

It's bad enough that Verizon doesn't have MASN 2 and carries only a fraction of Washington Nationals games in HD.  In my case, I was eager to see Stephen Strasburg's debut--the biggest game in Nats history--so I set my FiOS DVR to record the MLB Channel (588), which was listed in the FiOS guide as carrying the Nats game. Imagine my frustration when I arrived home, settled in and turned on my recording only to find . . . the Padres at the Mets. If I had known the game was only being offered in SD on channel 1, I would have recorded it.  As it stands, though, I foolishly relied on the FiOS guide and was left with nothing (i.e., Padres at Mets).  Why was it I switched to FiOS?  If I can't trust the program guide, what's the point?

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Re: FiOS program guide can't be trusted
prisaz
Legend

@lawhoo wrote:

It's bad enough that Verizon doesn't have MASN 2 and carries only a fraction of Washington Nationals games in HD.  In my case, I was eager to see Stephen Strasburg's debut--the biggest game in Nats history--so I set my FiOS DVR to record the MLB Channel (588), which was listed in the FiOS guide as carrying the Nats game. Imagine my frustration when I arrived home, settled in and turned on my recording only to find . . . the Padres at the Mets. If I had known the game was only being offered in SD on channel 1, I would have recorded it.  As it stands, though, I foolishly relied on the FiOS guide and was left with nothing (i.e., Padres at Mets).  Why was it I switched to FiOS?  If I can't trust the program guide, what's the point?


There have been many complaints regarding the guide data. I have a Tivo. It would have been interesting to see if that had it correct. It may have been a last minute programming change just so it could be shown.

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Re: FiOS program guide can't be trusted
XPEG
Newbie

The exact same thing happened to me...set my DVR for the Nats game and ended up with the Mets.  And all through the Mets game the channel program thing kept saying "Washington Nationals and Pitts Pirates"  14 strikeouts missed...not acceptable.

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Re: FiOS program guide can't be trusted
bobbo527
Specialist - Level 3

@lawhoo wrote:

It's bad enough that Verizon doesn't have MASN 2 and carries only a fraction of Washington Nationals games in HD.  In my case, I was eager to see Stephen Strasburg's debut--the biggest game in Nats history--so I set my FiOS DVR to record the MLB Channel (588), which was listed in the FiOS guide as carrying the Nats game. Imagine my frustration when I arrived home, settled in and turned on my recording only to find . . . the Padres at the Mets. If I had known the game was only being offered in SD on channel 1, I would have recorded it.  As it stands, though, I foolishly relied on the FiOS guide and was left with nothing (i.e., Padres at Mets).  Why was it I switched to FiOS?  If I can't trust the program guide, what's the point?


I have been a FiOS customer for over 2 years now and I can tell you during that entire time, NOTHING HAS CHANGED when it comes to the garbage program guide!!!. I am not talking layout, format, etc. (I like the layout/format) but rather the lack content in program/movie data and the overall myriad of schedule errors.

You CANNOT trust the program guide, there are so many errors it is not funny. And what is even sadder, as prisaz mentions,  we have been complaining forever and NOTHING has changed, the guide is still as inaccurate as ever. Verizon even conducted a survey last year, go gather everyone's feedback on the guide, and NOTHING has changed!!!

FiOS has so many strong points but this is one of it's bigger weaknesses and it doesn't have to be!!!! But then again it would seem Verizon does NOT care (like I have been saying, they are turning into Comcast!!!).

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Re: FiOS program guide can't be trusted
philhu
Contributor - Level 2

It is very bad.  I used to have 2 DVRs ($40/mo), but the guide was so messed up, it messes up your recordings.

I went to 2 TivoHD units  with cable cards ($150 to buy both on EBAY, then $4/month to FiOS for the cards, $9.95/ea to Tivo for guide data). 

The Tribune guide data used by Tivo is MUCH better.

So the ROI is a year or so.

No matter how good a DVR gets, it is all VERY dependant on the guide data.

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Re: FiOS program guide can't be trusted
Carl
Specialist - Level 1

I would imagine that MLB has the same blackout rules as most sports, where even the MLB Network can not broadcast the game into the Nationals and Pirates local television markets when the local channels are broadcasting the game. This is to preserve the ratings (and revenue) for the local channel.

I would assume that the guide data for the nationally distributed channels are not regionalized in case of blackout. So it may not be FYI's fault (this time), but FYI does suck.

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Re: FiOS program guide can't be trusted
prisaz
Legend

Like I said, "It may have been a last minute programming change just so it could be shown." In which case Verizon did good by making it available on local channel 1. Especially if it was a black out issue. It would have been nice to have the change like that updated in the guide, and Verizon could get credit for having it. But if FYI does not update their listing or control the listing for channel one, it is the same age old issue.

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Re: FiOS program guide can't be trusted
younganj
Enthusiast - Level 1

We have been Verizon FIOS Customers for a little more than two years, now. We reported that many of the listings in the program guide were wrong and many late night listings for some of the talk shows were directing us to the Weather Channel. Still to this day none of our concerns have been remedied. We were told that each program listing came from the individual networks sponsoring it. We find this hard to believe because in cross checking with our friends and family that remain with Comcast/Infinity, they are not having these issues. Maybe we all need to send our e-mails to Verizon's corporate office. Whom ever is in charge of Verizon's program guides sorely needs to be replaced ASAP.

Re: FiOS program guide can't be trusted
cxg331
Contributor - Level 1

It's the content provider, not Verizon.

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Re: FiOS program guide can't be trusted
Keyboards
Master - Level 3

@cxg331 wrote:

It's the content provider, not Verizon.


True, but Verizon contracted with them and has had complaints about accuracy as long as I've been a customer (over 4 years).  They need to do something about it to at least show they care.

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