DIRECTV dropping OANN?

@SuzeP1245 

The Regional Sports Network (RSN) Fee was not just months ago, but years (2016?). Used to be that the RSN fee was built into the package cost, like other providers still do. But then as RSN costs increased, and varied so much by market (because of who your in-market teams are), they itemized it.

It is the same time they started offering the Preferred Xtra package for those that watch little to no sports. No RSNs so no RSN fee. As it added in channels normally in a higher package, including Halmark Movies & Mysteries (HM&M, 565), and was under Xtra in base price, the overall cost became comparable to Choice with the RSN fee. I am not clear if the package has since been grandfathered or is still available (perhaps as a retention offer?).

Lowest package is Family $29.99. There was a time Select (the 2nd lowest) was $49.99 and Entertainment (3rd) $59.99 with that $10 difference for 4 sports channels (ESPN, ESPN2, FS1 and Pursuit). That is package cost only, before receiver services, TV fees, etc. Constant battle networks increasing costs, TV providers trying to keep them but staying profitable so having to adjust costs each year as needed. Never ending cycle, it seems.

At least verify if you are on the best package for your household. Over time people become unaware of all the packages available. Unless they have grandfathered anything, they have been Family, Select, Entertainment, Choice, Xtra (or the special Preferred Xtra), Ultimate, and Premier.

DirecTV Package Lineups

@Canceled (or E.F.?, but whatever)

I do agree that DirecTV should give an actual clear statement to their decision. Something specific, other than the PR "from an internal review) They don't have to share viewer data, but simply a straightforward reason for why they chose this route.

Though I do see parallels in real-life compared to "1984", there is a difference between government forcing censorship and a private TV provider choosing not to pay/support a particular network. If they have issue with content on principal, their belief in the validity of what is broadcast, or something else, then they can still choose not to carry it. Only they can decide if it is worth (for them) the segment of the consumer base that will not like the decision. Sometimes businesses make decisions for more than the bottom line as they don't have to always placate customers at the cost of something they value.

With this big a move, I highly doubt they will change course regarding OANN, but it is not impossible. Though it feels like the surge of those voicing their being upset about OANN leaving is akin to how it was when it was announced that DirecTV would carry them. Regardless of the reasons of the decision, and the opinions on it, not renewing after a single term does not bode well for OANN I daresay.

I don't really know. This is just a copy and paste from Eshoo/McNerney's letter to Mr. Stankey. 

I only have DirecTV.

Maybe Juniper knows.

@Catskills_Dan 

Yes, I am sure that I'm not an employee of AT&T/DirecTV. Certainly not confused about that. Per my own observations (outside of the forum), and my actual job that requires a special Oath, I feel too many use such terms just to rile up the crowd. Throwing them in arguments where they sound powerful but are just "buzzwords" (as I perceive them used), I find rather insulting to our nation.

@ahwhite 

In this case perception is not reality, but I understand that my uniqueness in the forum throws some people for a loop. I am not an employee. My "vested interest" is I have seen too many times fellow customers get misleading or wrong information, especially in the confusion that occurred when AT&T acquired DirecTV and they seemed to have thrown a lot of agents into the DirecTV world without enough training (in my opinion). And that was in addition to the poor information one might get from a 3rd party seller (such as Smart Circle which operates in other stores like Costco or Sam's Club).

I have returned a few receivers over the years. When AT&T acquired DirecTV, they updated the return process which caused a lot of questions at that time. And for WAY too long, agents over the phone were apparently giving the old instructions resulting in people getting non-return fees as they were waiting on a return kit that would never come. Such a situation really got under my skin, so I responded a lot to make sure others had the correct info to save their time and hopefully avoid any NRFs.

@Catskills_Dan 

I am not very familiar with U-Verse TV, other than it is no longer offered to new customers. So, my understanding it is a grandfathered service, that at this time doesn't have a hard shutdown date. But as their customers are encouraged to other services, that could update at some point.

From the perspective of being grandfathered, I suspect they either have agreements to continue thru the service's "end of life" (whenever that may be) or that it is not worth it to make an announcement of a network leaving as they are not invested in keeping customers on a possibly outdated service. To be clear this is just my thoughts and perceptions on this, so unknown what the situation is between U-Verse TV and OANN.

Wait, you've been trying to get sympathy from me all this time? I respect other's being upset about the decision and their belief it was a very bad one. But no, this is not something I sympathize, provide pity, or sorrow on.

Juniper has been telling us all along to just leave DirecTV if we don't like their decision. 

If I was an official at DirecTV I think I would take exception to that advice but nonetheless, that's the advice we keep getting. 

Juniper, you're not much help, to the customers or DirecTV.

If they don't keep OANN then getting another service, be it alongside DirecTV or as a replacement, would be the options. That is the reality. Sorry but I cannot "help" change the decision.

Just got off chat with Xfinity who offers service in my area but they don't have OAN or Oxygen, another channel that I like but not available on my DirecTV package level.  They appear to be cheaper for me than my cable company and I know no one here has Xfinity, since this is a DTV forum but I may take the Xfinity deal and watch OAN using KlowdTV on my firestick or on the Roku channel, depending on what apps the X1 box has.  I put out some feelers on Facebook so hopefully I get some responses there.  I am still considering a few streaming services with the cloud DVR (thank you @OANN_Now for the suggestion, I have thought about it!).  Some may wonder why I would consider a cable company that doesn't offer OAN and just stick with DTV but I've been considering going back to cable for a few years and DTV's decision to drop OAN just made it easier for me to do it.   $$ matters and if I can get most of what I have now for less $$ and faster internet/streaming, I can change how and where I will watch OAN.

@djazzy 

Well they have listened. Just doesn't mean they must change their decision. If they do, then excellent for you. If not, you have your options.

SuzeP1245,

Check out firestick or PlutoTv

Hope DTV is seeing this:

Maybe if the people stand up and be counted they will hear and see if their WOKE capitulation will have consequences.

I would like to object to the discontinuing of OAN  (channel 347)   I like this channel and watch it exclusively for news reports.  Please do not drop it.  If you do I will have to go to another outlet that will carry OAN.