Direct TV

Hi @JamesDaniels. We value your commitment for 30 years along with your dad, and we regret that he must pay an extra $29 to continue watching his beloved team, Cincinnati Reds. Let's connect via DM to explore your dad's programming options. 

Having to pay $29 more for a Regional Sports Network (RSN) doesn't sound correct.

What is the exact name of his package?

What is his zip code?

When he goes to the channel to watch the game, what happens? (error message, etc.)

Did he check to see if the game was on a local channel? (When on a local in his DMA, it would be blacked out on the RSN).

What models are his boxes? (might matter if he has a legacy MPEG-2 setup)

Keep in mind that ESPN and FOX have certain rights to games on Saturday/Sunday. Also, MLB in 2022 sold off some games to Apple TV for 7 years. Nothing DirecTV can do if either affects any games he wants to watch.

Hopefully it was a one-off technical error or just a rare case of another network having rights to the game where he lives.

Threatening to cancel accounts doesn't change the options available for how you get to watch professional sports. Those are hard set by the rules of MLB, NBA, NFL, etc.

If DTV raised the RSN fee then it was for everyone in that RSN not just you.

@shannon02 

True, but the issue is not the RSN fee. The problem is that his father couldn't watch the game on the RSN in the first place as he has done so for years. The agent told him it would take $29 to add it, which would have been bad info.

Ritchelle, how do we connect on Dm?

@JamesDaniels 

Forum notified a response, but post not showing. Possibly something about it triggered the forum's auto-filter so please try again.

With more info (such as the questions asked) we can help figure out what is actually going on. At the very least the rep telling you it takes $29 to get the RSN back was definitely wrong as even the Sports Pack (that some add to get in-market RSNs) is much cheaper than that.

@JamesDaniels 

As mentioned, nobody has to increase their bill by $29 to get their RSNs. So you got an agent who either was talking out of thin air (most likely I think) or very badly communicated what the actual situation was.

Please answer the above questions and the community can help figure this out. One additional question, since he last watched a game were any changes made to the account?

Not sure which pkg he has

45239 zip

Message says to call and purchase, he has watched on this channel for 10 yrs

Game was on Bally sports, I was watching from my house at the time.

He has original boxes

He has no internet .

Absolutely no changes made to his account on our end.

Hi, James. We're sorry you're no longer getting Ch. 661. Some customers on basic plans (ENTERTAINMENT or below) who were getting RSN networks at no charge will have them removed due to low viewership or equipment non-connection. If you want to get the channel back we can meet in DM to check programming options. Kiarha, DIRECTV Community Specialist

I've tried that twice. No luck

We value your feedback. In-market channels such as Bally Sports Cincinnati requires a base package of CHOICE and above. It includes a Regional Sports Fee that's used to pay for 'home' territory regional sports as part of your base package. Kiarha, DIRECTV Community Specialist

Looks like he is still in-market per the RSN info page.

https://www.directv.com/sports/regional-sports-networks/

What exact package he has matters. He gets his in-market RSNs in Choice and higher. If in a package below Choice then he would have it paired with the Sports Pack.

Internet doesn't matter since DirecTV delivers these channels by their satellite.

What are the models of those "original" boxes? With DirecTV shutting down their MPEG-2 feeds this might be a factor.

You mentioned you were able to watch the game on that channel. Do you have the exact same zip code? If not, there is a small chance his might be on the other side of a DMA line meaning one of his local channels had rights to that specific game.

Based on the info so far, I'm thinking this was a simple authorization issue. To make sure it doesn't happen again, log into his account and under equipment "refresh" each box he has. I would also suggest after doing so to do a red button reset on those boxes just to make sure it syncs up with the information sent. If needed you can call DirecTV and request a rep submit the refresh as well, in case the option is unavailable online (website has been going through updates).

Thank you Juniper. I will try that

You're welcome. Let us know how it goes.

And I would still verify what boxes he has, just in case something to be aware of for future.