ABC no longer available?

We are sorry for the interruptions. You may be able to stream certain shows and events using the station's websites or mobile apps, such as ABC.com. We continue working with the broadcaster who owns these local channels to reach an agreement. Luisa, DIRECTV Community Specialist.

I just ordered a digital antenna. Since ABC is the the main channel we watch on regular tv, if the antenna works I will have no need for directv anymore. 

You never needed DTV for local OTA channels.

I live pretty rural, so some antenna's don't work very well. I am hoping this one does. It has good reviews. 

Your local ABC channel removed their feed to DTV because DTV will not pay them what they are asking to renew the contract, which is why you bill goes up every year.

Yes. Doesn't seem right. They take more money and give us less product. 

DTV has no control over the channels programing.

I think they do have control. They have contact negotiations and if they are willing to pay the agreed upon price, they get the channel,and they pass the price on to the customer. In this case a modest price increase is appropriate. 

No it is not. Like many others, I don't want my price going up because someone wants their 'free' local.

Remember, locals are not charged individually for exactly what you have. They factor in the base package cost so whether or not we get those locals, we are affected by their price.

I'm guessing your ABC affiliate is owned by Nexstar which demands the highest increases because they are one of the biggest owners. They just hit the agreement date, so Nexstar pulled the feed to try and leverage us customers to accept higher costs.

If the ONLY thing you watch is locals, then go with antenna TV. Otherwise consider going without TV completely. To me, pay TV is too much for just locals. I hope you're on the Family package as that is the cheapest option.

For more info on the carriage agreement situation:

https://www.directv.com/tvpromise/ 

As someone who ordered a package that included local channels, and have lost two of the four main locals, I am not getting what I was promised and the bill keeps going up. I watch a lot of streaming shows, and ABC is the MAIN local I watch on dtv. My husband is unable to manage the streaming options and watches almost solely ABC. As for digital, as I said, I ordered a new antenna and am hoping it can pull in the channels over the hills and over 60 miles away. So yes, I have a right to expect what I pay for and to be angry they are not providing what was agreed upon.

Read the TOS, channels and programs are subject to change at anytime, all TV providers have this clause as they don't own the channels and some have gone bankrupted or cancel by the owners.  There is no guarantee or agreement that any particular channel will always be there. 

@m2cosey1 

You are not promised to get every local or any specific local all the time. The packages include access to locals in general. As long as you get a single local channel, you are getting what the service 'promises'. This is all in the Terms of Service that channels and the programming on them are subject to change at any time.

Bottom line you are getting what you pay for. You just want more than what that guarantees.

Hopefully the antenna works. If locals are the only thing you watch ever, then go without pay TV regardless if the antenna does it or not. If you don't already have it, you can lower to the Family package. It is $29.99 for the package cost, which at this point I believe is less than half the cost of the 2nd lowest Select (which I think was $64 or higher).

I just want what I had when I ordered it. You can spin it any way you want and point out their disclosures and the legal outs they have, but I ordered a package that included ABC, CBS, NBC, & FOX. Now two are gone. I have the right to be unhappy about this and that is why I am looking for other options. If the antenna doesn't work, I hate the thought of going back to Dish Network, but that is another option. Don't bother coming back and explaining contacts. I get it. Just don't like it and will move on. 

Changing providers will only fix the problem for the short term as all TV providers are in the same boat when it comes to local and national contract renewals.

I will see what happens.