Please find attached my questions to WD email support and their answers in regard to ABCiView.
What I got from the replies was basically it is all up in the air and an agreement has to be made between WD and ABC before the service is provided again, if ever.
Question 1. Please confirm if you are to keep ABC iview (this was one of the major reasons for my purchase and would amount to more that 50% of my usage)
Answer 1. - As noted on the release posted on ABC’s site, the WD TV Live Streaming Unit is not one of the devices that their service will continue to support at this point in time. Thus, though WD’s device used to connect to the service, ABC’s service no longer supports WD’s device. If a fruitful update/agreement to support the device is achieved in the near future, the device will continue to keep ABC iView as one of the supported services.
Question 2. Please confirm when a firmware update will be available to fix the viewing issue on ABC iview.
Answer 2:- At this point in time there is no firmware update scheduled to be released to fix the fact that the ABC iView no longer supports the WD TV live Streaming device. If a fruitful update/agreement to support the device is achieved in the near future, the device will continue to keep ABC iView as one of the supported services and this will be made available through a firmware update at such point in time.
Question 3. Please advise as to why there is no mention (that i can find) on your website that ABC iview can no longer be accessed by WD TV Live Streaming Media Players.
Answer 3: - The reason there is no mention of the WD TV Live Streaming unit not supporting ABC iView cannot be found on WD’s web site, is because the unit does support the service; however, the service has changed and discontinued support for the device in the time being. This is why the ABC iView page describes the supported devices and the WD site lists the supported services.
Question 4. Please advise as to why there is no mention (that I can find) on your website of the potential of ABC iview no longer being supported by all WD TV players.
Answer 4: - At this point there is no mention of the issue at hand on WD’s site given that it has not yet been updated. This is so, due to the fact that the issue has come about due to an Internet-based vulnerability that triggered ABC to change its means of delivery of the signal; since this was not a planned situation from WD’s behalf, it is unfortunately not one that WD could have prepared for. Given that the situation has arisen beyond the control of WD, I believe an update to the web site will be made soon to describe the situation and possible resolutions shortly.
Question 5. Please advise why you are still advisertising ABC iview as a selling point for your WD TV Live Streaming Players when at this stage it can not be used to view programs and WD has no current time line for offering a firmware update to access these programs, and are currently questioning whether or not to keep the ABC iview service.
Answer 5 - The service in question, ABC iView is one of multiple services originally supported by the device. Given that this change from the service no longer supporting the WD device has come about since November 1st 2014, it is not possible to immediately recall publicity (physical or virtual) or packaging that lists the service as supported. In reality, the service is supported but given the change endured by the service, it no longer supports the device named WD TV Live Streaming Media Player. Please note that this service’s support is not advertised as a major selling point but is a listed feature of the device which as such, is bound to change or cease should the feature provider (ABC) choose or have to change or cease its availability.
Question 6. As accessing ABC iview was a major factor in my purchase will I be refunded some of my purchase price if WD decides to drop the service.
Answer 6 - A full refund is made available by most retailers within a certain period of the device purchase. Through the manufacturer’s direct sale channel in this case WD Online Store, a 30-day return policy is made available. If you recently purchased the device from either venue, both options can be considered. If the unit has been deemed as faulty to a major level, not fit for purpose, not of acceptable quality, dead on arrival or not meeting its expressed warranties, a refund can be requested from the manufacturer after all available resolutions have been exhausted. WD as the manufacturer of the device provides you with a like-for-like replacement while under warranty but unfortunately, a partial refund or monetary reduction / compensation due to an unforeseen, uncontrollable and third-party-caused change on a feature does not have valid or positive precedent set.