Verizon Fios Subscribers Face Challenges Watching Nationals on Opening Day
CHICAGO — Many fans were unable to watch the Washington Nationals on Opening Day, along with some Verizon Fios TV subscribers who found themselves locked out of the team’s newly launched broadcast channel. Several individuals reported to The Athletic that Verizon customer service informed them that a more expensive subscription package would be necessary to access the game, with some incorrectly told that the new channel wasn’t included in any package.
Clarification from the Nationals
After lingering uncertainty about whether fans needed to pay extra to watch the Nationals, the team confirmed on Friday that games would indeed be situated on a different tier within Verizon offerings than before. Verizon also clarified that accessing Nationals.TV would require some subscribers to upgrade their services, even if they had previously been receiving Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN).
System Updates Needed
“While we aim for consistency, transitioning from MASN to a team-specific feed has resulted in changes to our tiers,” stated a Verizon spokesperson. The representative added that existing customers may need to go through an account review or adjust their plans according to the newly provided MLB feed. Additionally, users might need to reboot their set-top boxes if they were on an eligible tier but still could not access the game.
Fan Frustrations
Major League Baseball, which recently took over the Nationals’ television operations, refrained from commenting on the situation. Season-ticket holder Terri Bottash expressed frustration, questioning how MLB could mishandle the situation so severely. Unfortunately, fans who spent the game troubleshooting customer service missed witnessing the Nationals’ 10-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs, as well as rookie manager Blake Butera’s thoughts on the team’s lively postgame celebration.
Broadcast Changes and Financial Concerns
This season, the Nats shifted from MASN to MLB’s internal broadcast arm, which is responsible for producing and distributing content for over half the league’s teams. As a result, fans of several teams only received details on how to watch games just hours before the first pitch. The delays stemmed primarily from MLB’s negotiations with TV distributors, which aimed to maximize their revenue while finalizing broadcast plans.
Customer Service Struggles
Some subscribers reported receiving mixed messages from customer service agents—while some said an upgrade was unnecessary, they were told to allow time for Verizon’s system to recalibrate. After attempting to tune in on game day, many fans discovered their desired channels were unavailable and resorted to contacting Verizon for support.
Broader Context for MLB Broadcasts
Amidst ongoing issues with cable subscriptions, baseball fans are being asked to subscribe not only to local channels but also costly streaming services for national broadcasts. Additionally, MLB has adopted the local broadcast model out of necessity due to dwindling traditional cable subscriptions. They have now taken charge of local broadcasts for multiple teams, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, and more.
