FiOS customers to get NFL RedZone channel for free this Sunday - Update: check with your provider
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Sep 28th 2009 1:57PM
posted Sep 28th 2009 1:57PM
Not sure why Verizon didn't think of this until the fourth week of the NFL season, but never the less Verizon FiOS customers will be able to watch the NFL RedZone channel (835) from 1 until 4pm for free. We think it is kinda lame that Verizon charges $50 a season for access to this 6 hour a week channel -- and even more so that the so called "freeview" is only for three hours instead of the entire 6 hours subscribers get. Ultimately the 50 cents an hour this channel costs at this point isn't that much money in the grand scheme of things, but there is something about the whole offering that rubs us the wrong way -- of course this doesn't mean we won't be taking advantage of the free preview though.
Update: Turns out this "freeview" will go for several other providers as well, so far DISH, Comcast and RCN have all announced participation, check with your provider to see if the RedZone channel will suddenly activate in your area Sunday afternoon.
Update: Turns out this "freeview" will go for several other providers as well, so far DISH, Comcast and RCN have all announced participation, check with your provider to see if the RedZone channel will suddenly activate in your area Sunday afternoon.
Oh god... I hate that RedZone channel. I signed up for it the opnening weekend and I find it really annoying... the guy who hosts that channel is annoying as hell... the first day at least, he seemed to be so excited that he is showing us every single touchdown, but god, you never get the feel of the game ever... it's like someone else restlessly changing the channels while you are trying to watch TV. I was hoping to catch some eagles action here in NY, but I canceled it within 4 hours.
For free, maybe I'll tune in once in a while, but I would never pay for this channel... btw, SD version of this channel was airing for free on dish network.
pal :)
1PM to 4PM is only three hours, not four.
Dish network is offering the same deal this Sunday.
Cool, I have been debating on ordering it. It'll be good to see what it is like before i do.
@pal ... That is the idea.
DirecTV has a great version of this channel with Andrew Siciliano as its host. Part of why I have not decided to spend the $50 is that I already know I like Siciliano's version that I watch at a friend's house (for free). Will be interesting to compare this to the NFL's own version during the freeview.
Don't know if I would be pointing the finger solely at Verizon. NFL is notorious for charging a high price for their channels. If just depends on how the carrier wants to pass that along to their customers.
This has changed the way i watch football. I only wish it was in HD.
This channel is in HD on Dish Network and it looks GREAT !!!! (BTW, it's included in the muti-sports package for 5.99 a month. Just in case you were wondering.)
I just checked my Comcast Guide in Portland, OR and they added NFL Red Zone HD on Channel 799
HD channel: 799
SD channel: 399
I am going to order the sports package to try out RedZone, I wasn't going to pay the extra for SD. I might need to move both HDTV's into the same room for Sundays now.
Its great in HD on DirecTV. But I watch it more during the 2nd set of games (4pm-7pm EST) when there are less marquee matchups that I'm focused on. I have it showing on my laptop during the early games but I'm usually focused on my team on the big screen.
This is a must if you play Fantasy Football. Even then, it's great to watch all the scoring across the league. My new favorite channel - NFL REDZONE HD!!!