Long-time reader Greg Wyshynski is not a happy hockey fan. He sent me an email:
I waited for the last minute to upgrade my Verizon FiOS cable to a new sports package, hoping to add OLN for opening night. And I come to find out that Verizon FiOS -- taking over swaths of townhouses and high-priced homes all over Loudoun County -- does NOT offer OLN/Versus or whatever they're calling it these days. They offer 14 HBOs, a dozen HD channels, and 50,000 Spanish language stations, but not the Outdoor Life Network. (They do, of course, have five ESPN networks.)Yes, I know, easy fix: get a dish. Tell that to the H.O.A. in my neighborhood that will still charge me for basic cable even if I have DirectTV. So I'm stuck with FiOS, and that means I'm stuck with no OLN, despite living five minutes away from where the Washington Capitals are practicing -- when they're not at the now-ironically named hockey arena: the Verizon Center.
The FiOS customer service line is 1-888-553-1555. I know I'm not the only hockey fan steamed about this.
I've put a call into Verizon Media Relations in D.C. I'll let you know if/when they call me back. And if you do call FIOS Customer Service, please be polite. The folks who pick up the phone aren't directly involved in what's going on. So just register your displeasure in a direct but polite manor, and ask if/when they'll fix the problem.
UPDATE: To be fair, we should note that FiOS TV carries HDNet, which has a rather extensive schedule of NHL games. Then again, if you don't have an HD set, you're out of luck.
If you bring the beer, Greg, you’re welcome at my place any time.
I called TWC to see if they have HDNet, and they couldn’t tell me. It’s listed as a carrier on HDNet’s website, but I don’t think I get it.
Anyone know?
My cable provider (Sigecom) doesn’t have Versus either, so I opted for the NHL Center Ice package this season. I turn the game on this evening, and it’s blacked out because of the Versus coverage (I assume).
I find it funny that Verizon sponsers the Versus Intermission Report, Verizon is constantly running commercials during the game, yet people who choose Verizon for their cable service can’t recieve one of the channels Verizon is helping promote. Lame.