26 year customer

I expect you'll be leaving, because they won't do much about it. Satellite and cable TV providers are losing money hand-over-fist, so the days of sweet retention deals are gone. 

You where a new customer with a 1 yr discount at one time.  New customers now only get a 2yr price guaranty then they pay the going rate just like everyone else. 

Unfortunately, it does not matter how long you have been a customer anymore the Almighty Dollar is the motivating factor for there being no deals anymore. Directv was losing too much $$$ giving out discounts to loyal customers.  Directv is also not going to respond to you as they do not care as there is always someone who will take your place as their customer.  All TV services are going up, including streaming. So this is not a new thing and it will continue to be this way until the end of time.  If you are looking for ways to save money try getting an over-the-air antenna.  If that does not work there are always free streaming options out there like PlutoTV and RokuTV.

@SDKA 

Everyone was a new customer once. You don't keep that intro deal forever and that includes the movie channels as those are only free for the 1st 3 months and they decide if they keep them at full cost or remove them. So they have it for a limited time and then are right where you are now.

All TV providers go through carraige negotiations. You went through this 3 years ago when Tegna pulled the channels before so you should not be surprised and already know how this works. The channel should be back eventually, hopefully like last time not too long. I suspect your Fox is owned by Nexstar which was one of the worst negotiations over the years. But again the channel owners, not DirecTV, removed them. Would you prefer DirecTV just immediately cave to every demand of the channel owners and raise your price that much more?

Point is, your 26 years of service doesn't change the reality of how the TV industry works and where they have to spend money. You don't get cost reduction because they are not going to price themselves out of business. This is just like other TV providers.

If you cannot handle that reality than cancel and never go with another pay TV provider again. There is no permanent discount or free service for how long you've had it. You want it, you pay for it, simple as that. You're right, I bet management doesn't care that you want a handout for your 26 years.

I agree with most of the above comments (in regards to the negotiations, I understand your point, but while they do that, I continue to pay for that channel and they do not....and yes realizing if you actually quantified that, it is going to be pennies, if not fractions)...Don't get me wrong I currently pay a significant amount and have always, but at the end of the day anything is possible, right?

You do not continue to pay for the channel. Prices do not change day to day based on situations like this. What happens is DirecTV takes into account prior negotiations, among other factors, and then adjusts base costs annually. So once Tegna is complete this will add in to a future price adjustment.

Remember you do not pay for any channel guaranteed. They are subject to change at any time. The good thing is this does not happen often. It is unfortunate that you are in both a Nexstar and Tegna area so dealt with both negotiations close to each other.

A while back a financial review was done and was determined that too much credit/discounts were given out to existing customers. So their CEO announced they would be pulled back. Discounts have been expected to return here and there, but in moderation and only as temporary perks. Regardless of "anything is possible", realistically there are no permanent loyalty discounts. You can certainly call DirecTV and ask what may be available but plan that anything would be temporary and you will return to regular cost like everyone else. DirecTV has never had senior citizen, low income, or permanent long-term-customer discounts.

With pay TV it is luxury entertainment. So bottom line they have to stay profitable no matter what you can afford or what price you find comfortable with.