Canceling channels

DTV didn't cancel anything, the local channel removed the feed because DTV wouldn't cave into their demand for more money.

Get an antenna 

DTV has never canceled a channel, either the owners of the channel removes the feed or cancels the channel or DTV doesn't renew the contract.

@larkimpressive 

The OP @tashaallin was gravely mistaken/ignorant on a couple counts.

First of all DirecTV did not cancel the channel. The feed was taken away by the local affiliate owner, which is a normal negotiating tactic to leverage us customers to get DirecTV to cave to higher costs. The more this succeeds for the network owner, the more our bills go up.

Second, all TV providers have a clause that the channels can change at any time. This is because they do not own the channels and cannot force them to always be there. So the OP is the one that has the "nerve" to think they are entitled to those channels.

But in any case, that was a couple months ago. This being your first post seems an odd place and comment to start. Since you took the time to create and account, did you have a question or need help with something?

I don't care who is responsible for the channel not being on DTV. It's the fact that we pay a lot of money for DTV to do what is necessary to give us the selection we want in order to watch the content we want. They could cancel a few channels that we have no use for and provide access to the channel with most popular sporting event of the year. Not to mention all the other content that is on that channel. When my contract is up with DTV we will cancel and go with another provider who gives us the channels we want. A million other people in my area will do the same. Maybe DTV will get the picture because we sure as heck are not.

@TexasViewer75 

That's certainly one approach. Sadly, all TV providers are subject to these tactics from greedy corporate station/network owners. It's just a matter of time until your new provider goes through the same thing. 

So you want to pay a lot more for one channel because DTV just caved in and pays what the channel is asking?

@TexasViewer75 

Well you may change, but doubtful a "million" others will. And what will you do when the same thing happens to your new provider?

You don't care who is responsible, yet you imply it is DirecTV's fault and that the owner of the channel you want oh so badly is innocent. Fact is costs go up each year. TV providers are not always willing to pay those increased costs, especially for channels you can get with a regular antenna. Not all customers want to pay for your locals that they couldn't get because they don't live in the area.

If you cannot live without the channel than absolutely make the change that works best. Just be prepared you may need to cancel again when the channel decides to pull the same stunt with your new provider. It is the way of carriage negotiations as you are not owed any channel in particular.

(edited for typos)

I’m not sure how many people in my area will change providers but no doubt many will because we simply can’t get the channels we want to watch in the area. Unfortunately we don’t have the voice to influence the market in either case so we have to speak with our subscriptions and take that money to the providers that have the services we want. If the provider is unable or unwilling to negotiate and secure a package of channels that is applicable to the local area then they are not providing the services needed. The channels that are out there causing these problems don’t seem to have a problem putting their content on other platforms. This leads me to believe the issue is not only with them but with DTV as well.

Just because a TV provider has the local channel today doesn't mean they will have it tomorrow, the channel will remove the feed if the TV provider doesn't cave in and pay what they are asking.

It is not a one-way street. I say responsibility is split between TV provider, channel owner, the viewers, and those who make the regulations that cover TV services.

Personally, I don't want my bills to keep going up for any local channel. I'll just plug in a regular antenna if it comes to it. I went to pay TV for what my locals didn't provide. I would be fine if Nexstar, Mission, and other local affiliate owners just took a huge hit and realize they cannot anymore (even indirectly) keep dragging the viewer around.

Though I wonder if all the sports leagues didn't have those special agreements and viewing markets with the locals if those channels could even survive. Maybe it is our country's obsession with watching sports (MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA, etc.) that is a bigger underlying culprit.