FiOS and DirecTV work out some glitches in TV offer

Published 12:01 am Friday, January 7, 2011

Frontier Communications and DirecTV weren’t quite ready Thursday for calls from some Snohomish County customers seeking free service to drop FiOS television.

On Wednesday, Frontier had confirmed it was giving its television customers a choice: pay more for FiOS or get free service for a year from its partner, DirecTV. On average, FiOS television subscribers will see their bills go up $30 a month beginning Feb. 18 unless they switch to DirecTV. Customers who already have a contract with Frontier can keep their negotiated price for the remainder of the contract or switch to DirecTV.

Frontier said the rate hike was due to price increases for content. Rather than lose angry television subscribers, Frontier came up with the DirecTV deal. However, not all customers who called Thursday to take Frontier and DirecTV up on the offer got the promotion.

DirecTV hadn’t been prepared to honor the promotion to its former customers who switched to Frontier’s FiOS television service, said Stephanie Beasly, a spokeswoman for Frontier. But former DirecTV subscribers who wish to drop their FiOS television service will receive the promotional deal, Beasly said.

She said former customers who were told no should call again.

On Thursday, Frontier clarified to its promotion. Only FiOS customers who have a three-service bundle — television, Internet and phone — qualify to receive free DirecTV for the rest of the year. Customers with a two-service package — FiOS television and Internet — will receive free DirecTV for six months.

“At the very minimum, customers will receive six months free DirecTV,” Beasly said.

Although Beasly said Frontier is committed to FiOS television, the price increase and promotional offer could signal the beginning of the end of FiOS television service. Beasly said Frontier always has been more focused on providing high speed Internet.