U.S. Figure Skating & NBC Sports Group Partner on Media Rights Agreement through 2026

[Barbara Manatee]

I wouldn't wait by the phone. I've been trying to get Ice Network to change my credit card info since last November and it seems to be beyond their ability. If my account doesn't transfer over at the discount, it's likely NBC will be more helpful than IN.

 

[Debbie S]

Same here. Got the "someone will be contacting you in 24-48 hours". I told her that's too late, so she said she was putting "as soon as possible" in her "notes". I told her to put Monday, as ASAP means different things to different people. She was going on about how they have to research their technical difficulties. Uh, I want to update the expiration date of my credit card, I've done it on a zillion freaking other websites, why is your website the only one that won't work? And told her I got the e-mail last night, maybe they should resolve their technical difficulties before an e-mail like that goes out with 3 days notice (I know it came from USFS, but I'm sure IN was involved/alerted). What made matters worse is my rep didn't speak very clearly and she also talked very fast. I kept having to ask her to repeat what she said (and my hearing is just fine).

I suspect that the so-called discount will probably be available for a while and that someone will resolve this for all the people that can't update their info due to IN's idiocy, but we probably need to have a trail of contact so they know we tried.

ETA: And what pissed me off further is when I told her the issue needed to be resolved by Monday and told her of the e-mail, she said, "Did you read the full e-mail?" Uh, yes, I did. Then it sounds like she's pulling up something and I hear her say, "Well, it says...." and then "Oh, never mind." Yeah, I know how to read e-mails, next?

@rfisher I suspect they sent the e-mail to everyone, since it also talks about when people will be charged and when content will be migrated/available on the new platform. I assume they didn't have time or care to look at whose credit card info is expired.

 

[rfisher]

My credit card information was correct and I still got the contact customer service information response. My cynical nature thinks this is a way to not get the "discounted" price of $49. Apparently, the information is being moved regardless. It's the price difference that's dependent on the May 21 response. We'll see.

 

[Skittl1321]

Icenetwork is absolute bullshit and continues to be until the end.
I canceled autorenew in January because their product is crap and I wasn't able to watch most competitions due to it.

They are now telling me they have no possible way to opt me back into that, but I'm welcome to repurchase a season pass next year.

I mentioned that it's unfair to penalize me for canceling a product that was dissatisfactory when moving to a completely new platform. They said there is no penalty as I can purchase the new season pass.

It's utter bullshit.

 

[Sylvia]

This is the FAQ link included in the email: http://www.usfigureskatingfanzone.com/nbc-gold-faqs/
Excerpts:

What events are available with the Figure Skating Pass on NBC Sports Gold?

Live coverage of the U.S. Championships (junior and senior), ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, ISU World Championships, ISU Four Continents Championships, ISU European Championships and the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships. Live offerings will also include the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships (senior, junior and collegiate levels) and the U.S. Sectional Championships for both figure skating (senior and junior levels) and synchronized skating (senior, junior and collegiate levels). All live events, as well as the U.S. Regional Championships (junior and senior levels), will be available on-demand.

Can Figure Skating Pass subscribers access video archives?

The NBC Sports Gold Figure Skating Pass will include access to competitions dating back to September of 2017. In addition to the current season, the Figure Skating Pass will always provide access to the previous season’s content. Selected competition will be available starting July 1st.

Will there still be a USFS member discount like there was with icenetwork?

U.S. Figure Skating members, and current icenetwork subscribers, will be given the opportunity to purchase the Figure Skating Pass on NBC Sports Gold for a reduced price ($10 off regular price) during the service’s launch period. Once the offering window has closed, no additional discounts will be offered.

What does “Direct to Consumer” mean?

NBC Sports Gold is available to anyone that subscribes to the product. It does not require a cable provider to authenticate the subscriber, which means anyone with a high-speed internet connection may access the subscription service.

((CC: @BlueRidge )

Will there be commentary on the stream?

The majority of events will be streamed without commentators, using natural sound from the host arena. Some events, like the senior level of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships will have commentators.

 

[Sylvia]

I got a reasonable, helpful woman on the phone when I called IN just now. Even though we cannot update our credit card info online right now due to the website's technical issues, it sounds like all current season pass subscribers should be able to get the promised discount even if we can't update online before the May 21st deadline.

 

[Skittl1321]

Also:

What will happen to video archives prior to the 2017-18 season?

If you are interested in purchasing digital downloads of specific events or individual performances prior to the 2017-18 season, please visit usfigureskatingdigital.com. If the video you are looking for is not available, please email U.S. Figure Skating’s video production department at [email protected].

 

[Skittl1321]

I got a reasonable, helpful woman on the phone when I called IN just now. Even though we cannot update our credit card info online right now due to the website's technical issues, it sounds like all current season pass subscribers should be able to get the promised discount even if we can't update online before the May 21st deadline.

Assuming your auto-renew is active. If it is not, they have no way to update it.

I'm so mad about this right now.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

So it sounds like USFS members will get the same $49.99 price as IN subscribers. Good to know because I shared an IN account with a friend and don't feel like dealing with the credit card hassle.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

Also:
What will happen to video archives prior to the 2017-18 season?

If you are interested in purchasing digital downloads of specific events or individual performances prior to the 2017-18 season, please visit usfigureskatingdigital.com. If the video you are looking for is not available, please email U.S. Figure Skating’s video production department at [email protected].

So the archived stuff will disappear, then. That's disappointing. I hope USFS is keeping it even if we can't get at it.

 

[misskarne]

My credit card information was correct and I still got the contact customer service information response. My cynical nature thinks this is a way to not get the "discounted" price of $49. Apparently, the information is being moved regardless. It's the price difference that's dependent on the May 21 response. We'll see.

I'm equally as cynical and feel like it's not a coincidence that this has happened to everyone. I just got the error too.

Of course, I can't call them - it's now outside their help desk hours I think, and I'm not spending more money on an international call.

 

[LeafOnTheWind]

Great. I just saw this and don't have any credit card information entered into Icenetwork. Just great. They keep up the shit customer service to the end.

 

[aftershocks]

So the archived stuff will disappear, then. That's disappointing. I hope USFS is keeping it even if we can't get at it.

Wow, they are charging an awful lot for videos of individual event disciplines. For example, the U.S. men's singles event at 2018 U.S. championships costs $75.00, when before if you purchased an annual subscription you could always search the archives and see any individual skater or full event videos for the cost of your annual subscription!

I'm confused. If you have an annual subscription, is it possible to access some of the archives without paying an additional fee?

 

[Debbie S]

I just tried to watch a friend's performance at Adult Nats. Video loaded w/o me having to log in, then froze every 5 secs. Logged in and lo and behold, it worked. If you don't want non-subscribers to see something, put it behind a paywall and be done with it, rather than purposely crap up the vid. Looking forward to NBC/Fan Zone - it can't be any worse than this, right?

 

[floridaice]

I tried to update my billing information today also -- to no avail. I emailed Customer Service, who replied with a link to the login page. I tried again, on my Android phone, Firefox and Chrome on my laptop, but all failed. I emailed them back spelling out exactly what I did. Hopefully the will get this fixed.

 

[Moto Guzzi]

I tried to update my billing information and got the same error message. No response yet to my email.

 

[Jarrett]

I didn't receive any of the emails in this thread even though I have had ice network every year it existed. I'm just happy it is gone, crappy website and crappy service.

 

[GreatLakesGal]

I didn't receive the first email that went out but I did get the most recent one that was sent this week.

When I log in to IN, there is no information at all about me in their "Wallet." I have no idea what that means but I've decided to do absolutely nothing now and just see what happens.

I've had IN since 2015 and it worked fairly well for me until midway through this last season. No matter what I tried I could not get it to work on my newest Mac but it did work on an older Mac with a browser that hadn't been updated recently.

 

[GreatLakesGal]

Wow, they are charging an awful lot for videos of individual event disciplines. For example, the U.S. men's singles event at 2018 U.S. championships costs $75.00, when before if you purchased an annual subscription you could always search the archives and see any individual skater or full event videos for the cost of your annual subscription!

That's absolutely appalling.

 

[annie720]

I mostly used IN to watch archived video and if that's not going to be available with my annual subscription, I have no interest in subscribing to nbcsports.

 

[Tavi]

This is pretty silly but par for the course with Ice Network, I guess. Having tried repeatedly like the rest of you to update my credit card info, I contacted USFS and Ice Network via Twitter to ask for assistance- in my experience that’s often successful when other things don’t work. Ha. They apparently forwarded my tweet to NBC Sports Gold who suggested I contact their support (?). Of course when I did they said sorry we can’t help you, and referred me to icenetwork’s customer support- which -when I called - was of course closed for the weekend. I sent a follow up email to both their customer support and to the icenetwork at USFS email in the letter we got.

As someone said above, it’s annoying to waste so much time and energy on a routine task that is easily accomplished on most websites. But I don’t think they can refuse us a discount for not updating the information before May 21 because it was impossible for us to do so. So for now I wouldn’t worry too much.

ETA - USFS responded to me on Twitter. Icenetwork support is the right group to contact. The May 21 date will be extended due to website issues. ?

 

[BittyBug]

Wow, they are charging an awful lot for videos of individual event disciplines. For example, the U.S. men's singles event at 2018 U.S. championships costs $75.00, when before if you purchased an annual subscription you could always search the archives and see any individual skater or full event videos for the cost of your annual subscription!

I'm confused. If you have an annual subscription, is it possible to access some of the archives without paying an additional fee?

Yes, access to the archives was part of the subscription.

I am extremely disappointed but not surprised by the US Figure Skating's approach to the archived events. If they had any customer service focus, they would post all of the videos to YouTube and leave them there. Instead, they prefer to try to extort their customers. Shameless indifference combined with greed = classic U.S. Figure Skating.

 

[Debbie S]

Yes, access to the archives was part of the subscription.

I am extremely disappointed but not surprised by the US Figure Skating's approach to the archived events. If they had any customer service focus, they would post all of the videos to YouTube and leave them there. Instead, they prefer to try to extort their customers. Shameless indifference combined with greed = classic U.S. Figure Skating.

It may also be that migrating all the archived content beyond this season is too time-consuming for their (limited) staff. I know NBC is hosting the content/providing the platform, but they may not be providing much help in the migration.

I'm also annoyed that we won't be able to access previous seasons.

 

[aftershocks]

Yes, access to the archives was part of the subscription.

I am extremely disappointed but not surprised by the US Figure Skating's approach to the archived events. If they had any customer service focus, they would post all of the videos to YouTube and leave them there. Instead, they prefer to try to extort their customers. Shameless indifference combined with greed = classic U.S. Figure Skating.

^^ Exorbitant archival event prices are counter-productive to growing your audience and appreciating your long-time fans. Hopefully, their greedy approach will backfire. USFS are consistently so ham-handed and ineffectual.

Is today the last day to get the discounted NBC subscription price by updating credit card info? Or is it possible to try and update by tomorrow? Are error messages still turning up when you try to update, or has that malfunction been fixed?

What I've been trying to figure out is whether the previous season can be accessed with the current season under the NBC Gold subscription? And then is it just all the other archived seasons being assessed those hefty fees?

 

[BittyBug]

It may also be that migrating all the archived content beyond this season is too time-consuming for their (limited) staff. I know NBC is hosting the content/providing the platform, but they may not be providing much help in the migration.

It could be outsourced, and probably for very little money if they used offshore resources.

They just don't give a shit about their customers or members.

 

[BaileyCatts]

So they are still going to broadcast everything (GPs, Euro's, 4CC, US Nationals, Worlds) on NBCSN and Olympic Channel on television like last year, right?

 

[Carolla5501]

Folks. It's time to start hitting up the source of the issue.

Monday morning call the "friendly" people at USFS who set up this service with both IN and NBC. 719 635 2000
Start posting on social media.

 

[DimaToe]

If you ever wanna know how to kill what was once one of the U.S’s top sports and top form of entertainment, Just follow what NBC and USFS are doing, just when you think that this sport couldn’t be more inaccessible to the general public in the U.S. NBC and USFS are quick to prove one wrong.

 

[Sylvia]

So they are still going to broadcast everything (GPs, Euro's, 4CC, US Nationals, Worlds) on NBCSN and Olympic Channel on television like last year, right?

From the press release linked in post #1:

Each season during the partnership, NBC Sports Group will present an unprecedented 80+ hours of coverage, including 30+ hours of figure skating coverage on NBC, with an additional 50+ hours airing on NBCSN. In addition, original programming plus encores of NBC and NBCSN figure skating coverage will be presented on the Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. Coverage will showcase the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, including Skate America, ISU World Championships, ISU Four Continents Championships, the European Championships and the World Team Trophy.

What I've been trying to figure out is whether the previous season can be accessed with the current season under the NBC Gold subscription?

See FAQ excerpt in post #65.

 

[PRlady]

I'm a belt-and-suspenders kind of person when it comes to skating coverage, so in my new order to Comcast I am making sure the package includes NBCSN and Olympic channel. Meaning I get the online free, right?

I won't miss IN, the tech side was crappy. But I WILL miss my beloved Eurosport player. Perfect video and sound and no commentary for $8 or so a month.