After years of losing customers due to high prices, Verizon has decided to revamp their Fios TV services. The company is killing off its Fios TV bundles and contracts and replacing it with “Mix and Match on Fios” for internet, TV and phone standalone services, which allows customers to choose the channels and services they want in their TV package.
Under “Mix and Match,” customers are offered three internet speeds: 100 Mbps for $39.99, 300 Mbps for $59.99 or the Gigabit Connection for $79.99. Those who want TV can choose five channels of their liking or subscribe to YouTube TV for an additional $50 per month (and a $12 rental fee for a set-top box).
Those who are still interested in large TV packages will have a steep price to pay. The company has a TV package with 300 channels for $70 a month, and its largest package, which contains 425 channels, is priced at $90 per month. The larger TV packages include the monthly cost of one set-top box rental and customers who sign up for the $90 package are allotted a $12 credit for DVR service. Land line service can be added to any package for $20 a month.
Though “Mix and Match” is giving customers a chance to customize their services, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better for their pockets. “This is especially true for customers who have taken advantage of promotional offers,” CNET says. “For instance, Verizon just ended a holiday promotion that included gigabit broadband and TV service for $69.99 for two years. Under the new pricing model, a subscriber signing up for gigabit broadband service and 300 channels of Fios TV service would pay more than double that promotional offer.”
The change comes as the company reported a net loss of 67,000 Fios Video customers in the third quarter of 2019, Variety reports.