aftershocks
Banned Member
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Has there been any indication that IN has fixed tech issues? Have they announced a new deadline for updating billing info in order to get the NBC discount?
U.S. Figure Skating & NBC Sports Group Partner on Media Rights Agreement through 2026
- Thread starter Sylvia
- Start date
Because they need money to provide the stream. They could provide it for "free" if they could get sponsors (advertisers).
BittyBug
Childless Cat Lady
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This is not entirely accurate. Yes, there is a cost to providing a live stream but being able to do so at no cost to viewers is not contingent on sponsors or advertisers. U.S. Figure Skating a whole has expenses that need to be funded by revenue. But USFS certainly advertises and conducts other promotions that they fund through revenue from other sources (like their ridiculous #GetUp campaign
). How is it that the ISU is able to live stream the JPG for free on YouTube? Is it directly covered by sponsors? Or do they view it as a promotional activity worthy of funding through their general revenues?(Note that I'm not arguing that the stream should be free, only that it is not out of the question that doing so could be a form of advertising worth the expense.)
This is not entirely accurate. Yes, there is a cost to providing a live stream but being able to do so at no cost to viewers is not contingent on sponsors or advertisers. U.S. Figure Skating a whole has expenses that need to be funded by revenue. But USFS certainly advertises and conducts other promotions that they fund through revenue from other sources (like their ridiculous #GetUp campaign
(Note that I'm not arguing that the stream should be free, only that it is not out of the question that doing so could be a form of advertising worth the expense.)
From their point of view, they probably see it as a cost. But I agree that it would be a worthy promotional activity. Maybe they could even attract sponsors if they could show substantial viewership. And totally agree about the ridiculous #GetUp campaign!
MacMadame
Doing all the things
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I think charging a nominal fee is fine. What I think they could do better is marketing in general and marketing this service.
International Triathlon Union has a similar service and they do a great job of marketing it. For example, they send me an email the day before any event they are streaming to get me to sign up. They also have push notifications that tell me that the event is starting in an hour. (Though I turned those off. LOL)
I haven't signed up for it either but because of these emails, I have actually thought about it especially if it's a race I have a particular interest in. I know that if IN had sent me an email the day before Nationals, Worlds, etc. that at some point I would have pulled the trigger. But mostly I forget the service exists.
International Triathlon Union has a similar service and they do a great job of marketing it. For example, they send me an email the day before any event they are streaming to get me to sign up. They also have push notifications that tell me that the event is starting in an hour. (Though I turned those off. LOL)
I haven't signed up for it either but because of these emails, I have actually thought about it especially if it's a race I have a particular interest in. I know that if IN had sent me an email the day before Nationals, Worlds, etc. that at some point I would have pulled the trigger. But mostly I forget the service exists.
missing
Well-Known To Whom She Wonders
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- 4,889
In the name of science (and to prove the nobility of my character) I just went to our pal Wallet over at icenetwork and filled out a new form (as I had done several times through Monday).
I guess icenetwork wasn't that impressed with my nobility of character.
There was an error. We apologize for the inconvenience. If the problem persists, please send email to [email protected].
DimaToe
Retired by Frank Carroll
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- 5,534
My suggestion for those in the U.S. Get yourselves a VPN, yes you’d be spending a yearly (or monthly) fee, but at least you would not get royally F’ed by already paying a cable TV fee. Then having to pay extra to see live skating, then also having to pay even more to see past events. The only way to show that you will not put up with this craziness is to not give them your money. As simple as that.
momnatur
Active Member
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- 156
OK, so we get NBC Sports Gold and a "figure skating" pass. Those with autorenewals will be "ported" over to NBC Sports.
I purchased a "cycling" pass on NBC Sports Gold so that I could watch some of the other races that don't get the kind of coverage that the Tour deFrance gets. The coverage was ok, but I didn't get the NBC announcers that I was hoping. As a matter of fact, the announcers weren't even american (where I am.) Yes, they spoke english, (much better than the Hebrew and Italian that I had to put up with for the past three weeks) but with their own regional accents (British, Scottish, Welch, Australian, etc.) Don't get me wrong, I love those accents, but sometimes they can be very hard to understand; not a good mix when one has hearing issues to begin with. Oh, I think that some of the broadcasts had some commercials but I could be wrong about that.
My BIG complaint with all of this is that the email that I got indicated that if you needed to update your credit card information, it needed to be done before 21 May, the emails went out on 17 May or a 5 day window. They didn't even test the website to make sure that it would save changes.... BUT IT DOESN'T WORK! I called Ice Network because I also had some other questions also, and they acknowedged that the web page is broken, and we would be notified by email when it is fixed.
It has been a week since my first call and I've been checking the site every day, especially since I have not gotten any email about the site being fixed ... because it hasn't been fixed. I did call again and learned that the page has still hot been fixed. I was reasured again about an enail notifing when it is fixed.
Here we are now almost at June 1; IceNetwork ceases to exist on June 30. I'm guessing that the developers haven't a clue why the save button produces an error, and that (my words) it might take all month or longer for the repair to be done. Ice Network hasn't even bothered to put up a notice that "we are aware of the problem and are working hard to get things back up and running" like most reputatble customer service organizations would do.
I don't know if IceNetwork was put together on shoe strings, but iit always seemed that way to me. I'm very unhappy with the circumstances and I'm just hoping that I don't get screwed by this.
I purchased a "cycling" pass on NBC Sports Gold so that I could watch some of the other races that don't get the kind of coverage that the Tour deFrance gets. The coverage was ok, but I didn't get the NBC announcers that I was hoping. As a matter of fact, the announcers weren't even american (where I am.) Yes, they spoke english, (much better than the Hebrew and Italian that I had to put up with for the past three weeks) but with their own regional accents (British, Scottish, Welch, Australian, etc.) Don't get me wrong, I love those accents, but sometimes they can be very hard to understand; not a good mix when one has hearing issues to begin with. Oh, I think that some of the broadcasts had some commercials but I could be wrong about that.
My BIG complaint with all of this is that the email that I got indicated that if you needed to update your credit card information, it needed to be done before 21 May, the emails went out on 17 May or a 5 day window. They didn't even test the website to make sure that it would save changes.... BUT IT DOESN'T WORK! I called Ice Network because I also had some other questions also, and they acknowedged that the web page is broken, and we would be notified by email when it is fixed.
It has been a week since my first call and I've been checking the site every day, especially since I have not gotten any email about the site being fixed ... because it hasn't been fixed. I did call again and learned that the page has still hot been fixed. I was reasured again about an enail notifing when it is fixed.
Here we are now almost at June 1; IceNetwork ceases to exist on June 30. I'm guessing that the developers haven't a clue why the save button produces an error, and that (my words) it might take all month or longer for the repair to be done. Ice Network hasn't even bothered to put up a notice that "we are aware of the problem and are working hard to get things back up and running" like most reputatble customer service organizations would do.
I don't know if IceNetwork was put together on shoe strings, but iit always seemed that way to me. I'm very unhappy with the circumstances and I'm just hoping that I don't get screwed by this.
momnatur
Active Member
- Messages
- 156
This JUST (29 May 2018 17:30:53 -0400) arrived from US Figure Skating:
If you are having trouble reading this email, read the online version.
Dear icenetwork subscriber:
Icenetwork is aware of the error occurring when users attempt to update their wallet. The deadline to update your wallet information in order to receive the discount will be extended. Once the error is resolved, we will send out a communication to make you aware of the new deadline and to let you know that you should update your wallet information.
As a thank you for being a loyal icenetwork subscriber, you will receive the NBC Sports Gold Figure Skating Pass at a special discounted annual fee of $49.99 when you are auto-renewed on the new platform.
As a reminder, the “Figure Skating Pass” coverage on NBC Sports Gold will be in addition to the more than 80 hours of programming per season that will be shown on NBC and NBCSN through the 2025-26 season. The full schedule of events will be announced soon.
If you have any questions, please refer to our FAQ or contact us at [email protected] .
Thank you for your patience.
Icenetwork/U.S. Figure Skating
If you are having trouble reading this email, read the online version.
Dear icenetwork subscriber:
Icenetwork is aware of the error occurring when users attempt to update their wallet. The deadline to update your wallet information in order to receive the discount will be extended. Once the error is resolved, we will send out a communication to make you aware of the new deadline and to let you know that you should update your wallet information.
As a thank you for being a loyal icenetwork subscriber, you will receive the NBC Sports Gold Figure Skating Pass at a special discounted annual fee of $49.99 when you are auto-renewed on the new platform.
As a reminder, the “Figure Skating Pass” coverage on NBC Sports Gold will be in addition to the more than 80 hours of programming per season that will be shown on NBC and NBCSN through the 2025-26 season. The full schedule of events will be announced soon.
If you have any questions, please refer to our FAQ or contact us at [email protected] .
Thank you for your patience.
Icenetwork/U.S. Figure Skating
Yep, I got it too. A whole 11 days after people discovered the problem and got nowhere with IN. Really, USFS? I know they've been busy with all the coaching change announcements, lol, but sending out this e-mail a week ago wouldn't have taken that much effort.
misskarne
Handy Emergency Backup Mode
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Chalk up another brilliant effort from USFS PR. 
Skittl1321
Well-Known Member
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- 17,331
Still pissed that because I canceled auto renew when icenetwork was utter shit I don't get the discount. I dealt with them for years before giving up.
momnatur
Active Member
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- 156
Chalk up another brilliant effort from USFS PR.
I remember calling them once because they lost my credit card information, but were still able to place a charge to that card. So when this argumentative woman called me back and I told her what I just wrote here, she yelled at me over the phone. I always thought the had great customer service.... (insert bronx cheer here.)
aftershocks
Banned Member
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- 17,317
Hold onto your hats and fasten your seatbelts fs fans, NBC is unlikely to provide any better customer service than IN/MLB. 
I called IceNetwork and got someone who didn't know a lot even though she said she works for IN. However, to her credit she checked for information and indicated that everyone who has an active automatic renewal subscription in place with IN will be ported over to NBC's figure skating package (supposedly at the $49.99 price, although the person I spoke with did not actually know anything about the so-called pricing discount mentioned to fans in the IN email). 
The same person checked and relayed to me that it's only necessary to update billing information if the card you have on file with IN is not the card you prefer to use for your automatic subscription renewal. Therefore, those subscribers with an active renewal in place and correct card info already in the IN system should have their renewals ported over to NBC sometime around June 30. However, the person I spoke with is not actually certain of the exact date the porting to NBC will take place.
So, the person gave me a number to NBC/Universal, and said she would transfer me over. Of course, then I was disconnected and I had to call the number myself. And wonder of wonders someone answered who knows nothing about IN or the NBC figure skating gold package. 
That person sympathetically and cluelessly then connected me to the Sports department's security desk. 
Of course the person manning that desk knew absolutely zip. 
I reasoned with him that there must be a subscription customer service department at NBC/ Universal. I mean seriously, today all providers want is the money without actually offering good service or responsible, effective and knowledgeable assistance for consumers. 
The security person at least had a light go off in his head when I mentioned there must be a sports customer service department. He then transferred me to, you guessed it: a line where a man's recorded voice said to leave a message or send, you guessed it, an email to somewhere not clearly spelled out; it was something like NBCSportsFeedback at NBCUNI.com (but again nothing was actually spelled out as an email address). 
This kind of ineptitude needs to be exposed! Where's Phil Hersh and Christine Brennan when they're actually needed?
Are we transitioning this off-season into a twilight zone or a house of horrors?
Oh well, hopefully the first person I spoke to at IN gave information that will hold up to be accurate. But I'm not holding my breath, and it's useless to cross my fingers. I think it's about time for a drink.
I called IceNetwork and got someone who didn't know a lot even though she said she works for IN.
However, to her credit she checked for information and indicated that everyone who has an active automatic renewal subscription in place with IN will be ported over to NBC's figure skating package (supposedly at the $49.99 price, although the person I spoke with did not actually know anything about the so-called pricing discount mentioned to fans in the IN email). The same person checked and relayed to me that it's only necessary to update billing information if the card you have on file with IN is not the card you prefer to use for your automatic subscription renewal. Therefore, those subscribers with an active renewal in place and correct card info already in the IN system should have their renewals ported over to NBC sometime around June 30. However, the person I spoke with is not actually certain of the exact date the porting to NBC will take place.
So, the person gave me a number to NBC/Universal, and said she would transfer me over. Of course, then I was disconnected and I had to call the number myself.
And wonder of wonders someone answered who knows nothing about IN or the NBC figure skating gold package. That person sympathetically and cluelessly then connected me to the Sports department's security desk. Of course the person manning that desk knew absolutely zip. I reasoned with him that there must be a subscription customer service department at NBC/ Universal. I mean seriously, today all providers want is the money without actually offering good service or responsible, effective and knowledgeable assistance for consumers. The security person at least had a light go off in his head when I mentioned there must be a sports customer service department.
He then transferred me to, you guessed it: a line where a man's recorded voice said to leave a message or send, you guessed it, an email to somewhere not clearly spelled out; it was something like NBCSportsFeedback at NBCUNI.com (but again nothing was actually spelled out as an email address). This kind of ineptitude needs to be exposed! Where's Phil Hersh and Christine Brennan when they're actually needed?
Are we transitioning this off-season into a twilight zone or a house of horrors?
Oh well, hopefully the first person I spoke to at IN gave information that will hold up to be accurate. But I'm not holding my breath, and it's useless to cross my fingers. I think it's about time for a drink.
Last edited:
DobrinFan
Well-Known Member
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- 4,026
FYI: The wallet now works on Icenetwork.
shan
Well-Known Member
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- 21,793
I updated today too, I'm just wondering when they will charge the fee for the subscription. Anyone know the date?
Thank you! I just updated. Notice how we all got the promised e-mail notification that it was fixed. Well, at least I didn't get it. If it wasn't for FSU, I would know nothing, lol.
mollymgr
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 4,052
Probably when you least expect it.
dinakt
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 6,930
Same here.
If the new service works well, I'll happily resubscribe. But yes, it bites that I won't get a discount as I canceled after a decade of being icenetwork customer because the stream just would not work for me.
Wonder how much the regular subscription costs.
momnatur
Active Member
- Messages
- 156
I found out independantly that their bloomin' wallet page now updates successfully.
Now vor the $1m question: has anyone heard from IN about their blasted wallet page now working?? I can't tell you folks how many times they have assured me that an email would be sent out as soon as this specific function is fixed.
One more small comment: you don't know if you hage a deal until you compare it to the regular price. I think we are all waiting for that one.
Now vor the $1m question: has anyone heard from IN about their blasted wallet page now working?? I can't tell you folks how many times they have assured me that an email would be sent out as soon as this specific function is fixed.
One more small comment: you don't know if you hage a deal until you compare it to the regular price. I think we are all waiting for that one.
Aceon6
If my father had only stayed in Canada
- Messages
- 32,195
I updated the payment info, then immediately sent USFS a nastygram about not communicating. Yes, I know it was a US holiday last Monday and the office might be short staffed this week, but GEEZ!
aftershocks
Banned Member
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- 17,317
I'm wondering whether I should still update, even though I was told it wasn't necessary if my card info is accurate under the automatic renewal???
Firedancer
Well-Known Member
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- 3,052
I received this email as well.
Carolla5501
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 7,458
I'm over it. I am not letting NBC charge me until I have proof that the service is better. If it costs me $10, that's better then throwing $50 away on something I can't use.
aftershocks
Banned Member
- Messages
- 17,317
The update window passed at noon. Despite what an unreliable call-taker rep on IN said, it seems to me that the email sent out intends for all current and former subscribers to update in order to be ported over to NBC gold at the 'so-called' discount. We'll see how everything pans out for the upcoming season. Fasten your seatbelts...
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