Vizio alienates many OTA TV Broadcast listeners--WatchFree + Update

[p1879]

Vizio has forced an update that makes broadcast Tv viewing a pain. It can be defeated, at the loss of all Smart TV functions. Here is some discussion on the issue:

https://www.reddit.com/r/VIZIO_Official/comments/13xv85r

 

[krokus]

It looks like the update was in May, and has annoyed people ever since.

 

[prcguy]

Looks like Visio is profiting somehow by forcing you to go through their interface to watch OTA channels. I think the fix is for everyone to take their new Visio TV back to the dealer for a refund because its not what you purchased, Visio forced an undesirable change after the purchase.

 

[p1879]

It just took over my tv last week. This is on a tv used 99% over-the -air , so must have hit me late. The dazzling and flashing ads they were pushing in the new guide were sickening.

 

[mmckenna]

Glad I looked down here. Not sure when mine started this crap, but I noticed it a few weeks ago.

Stupid thing won't tell me which channel I'm on. Not that I watch that much TV. I'll have to try the fix.

 

[p1879]

Never again will I buy a Vizio. The one here is now relegated to broadcast OTA only.

Even though the internet/smart functions were dumped, the obscene update causes the tv to start very slowly, and has an annoying caption band across the top of screen during the first seconds of a channel change.

For product comparison, the Vizio is the least sensitive tv for OTA that I have owned. Same antenna cable hooked to my LG TV--used for computer monitor usually--shows a 50 mile VHF TV signal station fine on LG, and breaking up on the Vizio. The LG is about the same as my Samsung TV sets in rx sensitivity, to the eye.

Calling Vizio customer service, then getting their "resolution manager" on the line was my only joy. Volcano Vent!