regional sports network fee
normannj
Enthusiast - Level 2

Who else is upset that Verizon fios continues to charge us every month for regional sports network fee even if you don't  want any sports channels? Adding insult to injury they now charge $6.39 instead of $2.42! This should be paid for by only those who want sports channels! Verizon must stop this AND refund monies!

Re: regional sports network fee
CRobGauth
Community Leader
Community Leader

If you don't want sports channels, then change to package(s) that have the channels you want but do not contain sports channels.

We all pay for channels we don't want. Some reports say that a la carte programming could cost as much or more than current depending on how many channels you want and how popular they are.

0 Likes
Regional Sports network fees?
bosslett
Enthusiast - Level 2

Has anyone started getting a $6.39 regional sports network fee? It never appeared on my bill until June 3, 2017. I called Verizon but they gave me some run around about that it's a new charge for my sports programs. I told the Agent that I have the same sports programming for 5 years and I never had that charge. Any comments?

Re: Regional Sports network fees?
sheilaandalex
Newbie

I've had FIOS service for about a year & have had the regional sports fee the whole time.  When I signed up, my package did not come with access to MASN.  Had to add it & pay that fee to watch the Nats.  

0 Likes
Re: Regional Sports network fees?
bobbo527
Specialist - Level 3

@bosslett wrote:

Has anyone started getting a $6.39 regional sports network fee? It never appeared on my bill until June 3, 2017. I called Verizon but they gave me some run around about that it's a new charge for my sports programs. I told the Agent that I have the same sports programming for 5 years and I never had that charge. Any comments?


I've had the fee as long as I can remember. As local sports teams get greedier and greedier and want a larger share of the pie the fee goes up. And it is not exclusive to Verizon, ALL cable companies charge some sort of sports fee for local sports coverage. Plenty of blame to spread around for it, it's not just Verizon's fault it is so high.
0 Likes
unexplained fee increases
kfh2
Enthusiast - Level 1

Has anyone noticed the fee increases in their June 2017 residential TV bill?  I was just on hold with Verizon customer service for 58 minute and my issue is still unresolved.  there is now a Regional Sports Network fee, which I was told is a fee from the FCC that Verizon is passing on to the consumers.  I also don't understand how me paying more for the same service I have already been receiving is not a breach of my existing contract.  There is also a Fios TV Broadcast fee which the agent was unable to explain to me.  I was told that I would receive a call back and am still waiting for customer service to call back.

Re: unexplained fee increases
CRobGauth
Community Leader
Community Leader

The Regional sports fee covers costs to carry regional sports channels.

As it states, it varies by region depending on the fee they have to pay local channels.

I believe broadcast fee is similar for broadcast channels.

Contracts only cover the programming charges.

Taxes, fees and equipment costs can change over time.

And as they state, these fees are allowed as pass through by the FCC.

0 Likes
Re: regional sports network fee
Spy1200
Enthusiast - Level 1

I've been fighting this for the last year with Verizon Corporate, the FCC, the MA Attorney General's Office, and my local town representatives. File a complaint with the FCC and they in turn submit it to Verizon, who by law has to respond to your official complaint.

https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us

It's "Taxation without Representation" since I watch ZERO sports, yet I'm billed for sports programming? Verizon conveniently packages their sports channels even into the stripped down Custom TV packages (all but one). I say bill the people who subscribe to sports...why me? This new increase in the "Regional Sports Network Fee" not to mention the new "FIOS TV Broadcast Fee" is pushing me to the edge to cancel my entire FIOS "Triple Play" bundle. 

Re: regional sports network fee
CRobGauth
Community Leader
Community Leader

My understanding is that this fee is charged by several of the cable providers.

So you can either chose a package that has no regional sports (and may not have all of the channels you want) or have to pay the fee.

You can look to see if there are any of the streaming providers that carry the channels you want as well.

0 Likes
Re: regional sports network fee
normannj
Enthusiast - Level 2

I agree with you on this too. they've been rooking us for years at $2.42 a month. now it's  $6.39!who gets this money? i don't watch, need or want any sports channels. they are devious in their bundle layouts. you can't shed the sports channels without losing channels you want.