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2 Messages

Monday, October 17th, 2022 3:10 AM

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ABC being canceled on Directv

I saw on ABC where Directv is possibly taking the station off the line up. 90% of my TV viewing is on ABC! This is EXACTLY why I left Dish. I got tired of investing my time and getting involved with shows only to have them taken off due to bargaining. This stuff should be taken care of BEFORE  it gets down to customers losing channels! Please fix this and keep ABC.

Accepted Solution

ACE - Expert

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2K Messages

2 years ago

Directv is not dropping ABC. What you saw was from your local ABC channel letting you know their contract is up for renewal. If the channel gets dropped, it’s because the channel owner pulled it. Directv will gladly continue carrying the channel while they negotiate. This happens with every tv provider every time the contract is renegotiated. Contact your local channel and tell them to quit raising their rates. That’s one of the main reasons your Directv bill goes up every year.

Accepted Solution

ACE - Expert

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20.8K Messages

2 years ago

This is the local channels standard policy, scare the TV providers customers into calling them to complain and demand that they pay whatever the local wants then they complain when their bill goes up.  The local channel is the only one that can remove their signal to DTV.  90% of these are resolved before the contract ends.

(edited)

Accepted Solution

ACE - Expert

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22.6K Messages

2 years ago

@Catlady9 

As you've learned, changing TV providers does not protect you against this situation. Doesn't matter if Dish, DirecTV, or anybody else. They don't own the channels so not a single provider is immune from this.

So ABC is not being canceled. What is happening is your local affiliate of ABC has their agreement with DirecTV comming up. What can happen, and is more common in recent years, is the local affiliate owner will put out a notice as a scare tactic. They are very careful of their wording to mislead what the actual situation is. Sometimes they will pull the channel to upset customers and leverage them against the TV provider.

Just remember you are doing what they want, complain as much as you can to the TV provider. The intent is to get the TV provider to cave to their demands for increased costs. And when those costs go up, then that gets passed on to us (the customer) as a higher bill. This is a primary reason why the regular cost goes up year after year.

Personally, if 90% (so practically all) your TV viewing is on a local channel, then use a regular over-the-air (OTA) antenna to pick them up. You may even get sub-channels (if any are in your area) or possibly additional locals from a neighboring market. If you are not in a good spot to receive the free broadcast, consider lowering your package. You can go as low as the Family package ($29.99 for the package itself).

Going to any pay TV provider for just locals is paying a lot to gain little in my book.

To check on if any negotiations are affecting you: www.directvpromise.com 

(edited)

Accepted Solution

ACE - Sage

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46.2K Messages

2 years ago

Check out this video to learn more about why this happens ....

https://youtu.be/rppTzSP5NI4

Bottom line ... It's all about greedy network owners demanding more and more money from TV service providers to carry channels that are available over-the-air for free. 

New Member

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2 Messages

2 years ago

Thanks everyone for opening my eyes to the "other side". I will chill and see how it plays out. The idea of an antenna was a good one since I mainly watch local channels. Trouble is the hubby watches alot more channels. Thanks again everyone. =^..^=

ACE - Professor

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2.3K Messages

2 years ago

You can use an antenna for locals and still watch DirecTV for the other channels, you'll just have to switch tv inputs from one to the other 

New Member

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2 Messages

1 year ago

I'm paying a $125 a month and the three primary networks are part of the deal.  I don't care about infighting by Direct TV and ABC.  I want compensation the the channels not being available and will give them a week before I cut the cord.  I've been close for a couple years.  PROVIDE WHAT I PAY FOR, OR COMPENSATE ME FOR NOT DOING SO.  i DO NOT HAVE A HD ANTENNA, AND AM NOT BUYING ONE AS LONG AS I HAVE CABLE.  IF I BUY ONE, CABLE GOES!  Bad Marketing Decision Direct TV.  

ACE - Expert

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20.8K Messages

1 year ago

DTV is not talking to ABC it is your local ABC affiliate that is owned by Nexstar or Mission that removed their feed.  All TV providers are in the same boat.  DTV is giving a $10 credit to anyone in the affected areas but you need to sign into your account to get it.

Read the TOS that states that channels and programs are subject to change at anytime.

ACE - Expert

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22.6K Messages

1 year ago

@TadBarnes 

You are being provided what you pay for. No TV provider guarantees any channel (local or otherwise) will always be there. They don't own the channels. When carriage agreement comes up some channels (locals becoming more common on this) pull the feed to leverage us customers to try and strongarm the TV provider into even higher rates.

If you buy a antenna than cable goes? Ok then, so you don't care about anything other than locals so why have any pay TV in the first place? A antenna is not only a backup during these annoying negotiations (Nexstar is not the only one who has done this), but you may pick up sub-channels that aren't carried in the first place.

There was no marketing decision by DirecTV on this. Seems you just don't know how it works. Thank your local affiliate owner for the ever increasing rates and pulling the feed.

ACE - Expert

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22.6K Messages

1 year ago

And if anyone needs to educate themselves instead of being ignorant, you can check for carriage negotiation issues (national or local) on their official web page:

https://www.directv.com/tvpromise/

Also, for those that think they are owed or otherwise entitled to any channel:

https://www.directv.com/legal/directv-residential-customer-agreement/ 

Our Programming Changes. Many factors affect the availability, cost and quality of programming and may influence the decision to raise prices and the amount of any increase. These include, among others, programming and other costs, consumer demand, market and shareholder expectations, and changing business conditions. Accordingly, we reserve the unrestricted right to change, rearrange, add or delete our programming packages, the selections in those packages, our prices, technologies used to deliver the Service, and any other Service we offer, at any time.

New Member

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2 Messages

1 year ago

blah blah blah.  I hate bots and this is the reason why.  

ACE - Expert

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20.8K Messages

1 year ago

No more a bot then you are.

ACE - Expert

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22.6K Messages

1 year ago

@TadBarnes 

There are no bots. You just hate being told the facts which don't line up to the fantasy you've made up.

Welcome to reality. You have no rights to those channels and they will not be back unless their owner (Nexstar, Mission, etc.) permits it.

1 year ago

I think a few thousand households will be upset when they can’t watch Football on ABC starting this week. 😈

ACE - Expert

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22.6K Messages

1 year ago

@Notsureaboutallthis 

Nexstar (the local affiliate owner) wanted to temporarily extend the agreement to end when football season was already in full swing. That I think would have upset those viewers that much more.

So viewers have had ample time to plug in a regular antenna or seek alternate/temporary options before the season starts. This is an unfortunate situation which has no indication of resolving soon.

I would expect Nexstar is banking on upsetting viewers enough to convince DirecTV to cave so rates can be raised that much more. We shall see what happens.


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