Sports fans, beware! Another month, another frustrating dispute between cable providers is threatening to ruin your viewing experience. This time, it's the Verizon Fios subscribers who might miss out on the highly anticipated Patriots-Jets game. But here's where it gets controversial...
The Sunday matchup, scheduled to air on Fox affiliate Boston 25, is currently inaccessible to Fios customers in Boston and Providence. This is due to a contract dispute over carriage fees, with channels being dropped on December 15th. Both Verizon and Cox Media are pointing fingers, with each side claiming the other is being unreasonable. Cox Media accuses Verizon of rejecting fair offers, while Verizon counters that Cox is demanding exorbitant rates, which will ultimately be passed on to customers.
The situation has left Fios users frustrated, with a short message on Fox channels suggesting that negotiations are ongoing. Meanwhile, Boston 25's website encourages customers to call Verizon and demand the restoration of Fox channels.
These carriage disputes have become all too familiar in the complex world of cable and streaming providers. Sports fans are growing increasingly exasperated, having to pay more for multiple services just to watch their favorite teams. Recent showdowns include Fox vs. YouTube TV, NBC vs. YouTube TV, and Disney vs. YouTube TV, with some resulting in blackouts.
In a similar ongoing dispute, Fubo dropped NBC channels, leaving Boston-area subscribers without access to the Celtics on NBC Sports Boston for over a month.
While there's a chance the Cox/Verizon situation could be resolved before kickoff, optimism is low. Boston 25's website suggests switching providers, recommending DIRECTV, DISH Network, or Comcast/Xfinity.
As an alternative, I'd suggest trying out streaming services like YouTube TV, which offers a free five-day trial, or Hulu Live and Sling TV with their respective free trials. Purchasing a digital antenna or using the Local TV+ app are also cost-effective options to access local channels.
I wish you luck in finding a way to watch the Patriots-Jets game if the dispute persists. These greedy showdowns are not only frustrating for fans but also a challenge to navigate as a sports writer.
In other news, for those who appreciate a trip down memory lane, the team-produced podcast "Super Bowl Sound Odyssey" revisits the Patriots' special 1985 season. It's a delightful journey, despite the team's loss to the Bears. The podcast offers a unique perspective on the Patriots' road to Super Bowl XX, with four episodes released so far, including historical context and a look back at the talented teams of the late 1970s.
Lastly, for sports and Netflix enthusiasts, Elle Duncan, a distinguished NESN Alumni Association member, will debut as the host of sports and live events at Netflix on January 23rd. She'll be hosting "Skyscraper Live," featuring free solo climber Alex Honnold's attempt to scale Tapei 101 in Taiwan.
Feel free to reach out to Chad Finn at chad.finn@globe.com for further insights and discussions on these topics.
