I want My Nexstar Back

No, you do not want to have Directv just sign the contract.  If they were to do that then your bill and everyone's bill would go up big time.  Right now DirecTV is fighting to keep our bill down and keep that channel at a reasonable cost.  Directv did not pull the feed for this channel the channel owner did and who you should be mad at is Nexstar the owner that took them away.  Nexstar is a very greedy company and does this to every tv provider.  Not everyone wants to pay more money there are some who could not afford to have a costly increase.  Just remember that this affects more than just you there are thousands affected by this same dispute all across the united states it is not just about you!

@Wade0 

Many of us do NOT want to pay out of pocket. You are requesting the bills go up for ALL customers. Locals are not itemized or price adjusted for their exact area, all packages include general access to locals. So this affects everyone, whether they get Nexstar channels or not.

Nexstar has proven itself to be one of the biggest offenders (if not the biggest) on pulling the feed to leverage customers to get higher rates. DirecTV could have just signed the demand but then you would just be complaining when it affects the price adjustment raising your bill that much more.

Since these are local channels, I highly recommend that more people use a regular over-the-air (OTA) digital antenna to pick up the free broadcasts. Like many, I went to pay TV for what my locals could not provide.

If you favorite programs are on locals, why have pay TV in the first place? If you don't get good reception for the traditional broadcast, then consider lowering to the Family package. That way you have the lowest costing package possible that still has access to locals like all other packages.

Can someone explain how much of an increase there will be for each an everyone of us? Does anyone KNOW? I am pretty sure Nexstar is not asking for an amount that would include a rate increase SO substantial that YOUR individual bill would go up SO much to be deemed 'Costly'. 

More money out of pocket? Then why have other streaming services, satellite services, and cable services ALL SIGNED CONTRACTS with Nexstar over the last year or so? Over five hundred contracts signed. 

Explain to me why when I research to see how much more IT WILL COST EACH AND EVERYONE, that I am unable to find that information? I mean that's important information to know don't you think? Or do you just believe what ONE BIG COMPANY SAYS ABOUT ANOTHER BIG COMPANY? Remember, both are titans in the industry and both carry clout. 

Sure would be nice to see Direct TV come out with a complete breakdown of costs...per channel...but they won't...keep your money...for now. YOU WILL pay more, sooner or later.....there's always some excuse. 

OH, you can stick the suggestion of using a Digital Over the Air antenna where the sun doesn't shine...back in a closet..

AND nobody pulls the plug. It's a contract dispute. By law Nexstar cannot broadcast until new contract is signed. 

Let me know if you find any cost breakdowns and I will keep looking as well. 

The exact cost is not made public as that is private between the companies (just like any other TV provider and/or channel owner). All DirecTV can do is disclose it is an increase and give a broad comparison. https://www.directv.com/tvpromise/

Every time a channel owner increases costs, the TV provider (DirecTV or others) must factor that in when they adjust prices. With DirecTV it is annual (notification usually in December with new rates in January).

The suggestion of a antenna is valid. Is a backup during these annoying negotiations, plus sometimes pulls in other channels (like sub-channels) that are not carried. Just because you don't like it there is no reason to be snarky with your not so subtle "sun don't shine" jab. Leave the immaturity at the door please.

Nexstar can broadcast if they choose to. It is preferred when a channel owner keeps the feed on as a sign of good faith while negotiating. They are not forbidden by law because they are the ones that own the broadcast rights. To the other side since they don't own the channel, DirecTV may not broadcast it without Nexstar permission (either by an extension during negotiations or a new carriage agreement hashed out). So in this case, yes Nexstar "pulled the plug" as is their right. Would have been nice if they didn't and just extended it out, but that was their choice as they cannot be forced otherwise.

So either wait patiently for the situation to resolve, use the free broadcast, watch something else, or even go with another provider. Just be aware with that last option that NO provider is immune from this situation. Nexstar being one of the biggest local affiliate owners give them more clout to use us customers as leverage.

Check out this excellent video to see where the money flows in these crazy contract disputes over FREE off-air stations ....

https://youtu.be/rppTzSP5NI4

I'll be 'SNARKY' if I want. You still have not given a breakdown of costs. 

Sure is funny that in January 2023 Direct TV had a rate hike....

HOW MUCH is Nexstar asking for? Why was it not included in that last rate hike? Will it raise the bill by one dollar per month? By ten dollars? How much? 

I'll say this one time. Direct TV is the ONLY PROVIDER that has NOT signed contracts with NEXSTAR. 

All other providers that I have visited offer NEXSTAR programming in their lineups. The price comparison is is close to what Direct TV offers. These providers also had price increases this year...hmm...they must be going broke carrying Nexstar...

Then change to a new provider to get what you want. I don't want to pay anymore, what ever the price may be - period!

@Wade0 

Did you watch the video I linked above?  It does a great job of explaining the $$$ flow.

@Wade0 

I get you do not like my perspective, but I have do so maturely and politely. I would hope you could do the same. Trying to have subtle insults and the like will not get Nexstar back any quicker.

Once an agreement is reached with Nexstar, then it would affect future price adjustments. They are not going to do that during negotiations as without a final price settled on that would be putting the cart before the horse.

Of course I didn't give a full breakdown of costs. And I already told you why, that is private between companies and any bluster from you does not change that. All we can get is the general information provided which you already have access to.

You have been provided honest answers and have been provided options (all of which are valid). It is up to you on where you go from here.

I stand by I do not want my bill to go up for any local channel, regardless if it is one you get or I get. I would be just fine if all locals were removed from my package and I used a regular antenna for their free broadcast. For me, pay TV is not for locals as I already could get them.

Direct TV told me in writing today on chat session (which I took a screenshot of) that Nexstar  channels would be restored before the fall lineup premieres.  While I miss some of the channels, it’s hard to tell whether Direct TV or Nexstar is being unreasonable -or a little bit of both. I guess they are both trying to do their best to get the best deal.  In any case, if they can’t reach an agreement soon, I would recommend Direct TV take a survey to see which subscribers would be willing to bundle Nexstar channels separately for a set price.  If enough subscribers are willing to do this to make it cost-effective, then they make a deal with Nexstar.  If most subscribers don’t care about the channels, then they end negotiations, and we forget the channels. at some point negotiations need to end.  Either make a deal or don’t.

@25yearsandcounting 

Chat agents are not at the negotiating table. So if one said it would be restored before fall lineup, all they were doing was guessing. That "in writing" is no promise or guarantee. Too often chat agents give out bad info and the interaction doesn't go to your account so regular customer support cannot see it. Because of very questionable info and no official record, I avoid the chat opiton.

You are correct that both sides are trying to get their best deal. As customers the better deal Nexstar gets means we pay that much more. I would love it if there were no price increase or even having it lowered, but realistically channel owners seem to always get a cost increase of some sort. Best TV providers can do is minimize that impact.

The industry is set to not allow al-a-carte options (separate bundles) for channels like locals. So all locals follow the status quo on that and Nexstar will make sure all pay regardless if they watch or not.

I would expect at this point negotiations are not active. Simply DirecTV is open if Nexstar wants to start talks again for a more acceptable price point. They are not crawling to Nexstar begging them to come back.

You all defending Directv are being simple minded. They could've kept it until late October and at least allowed their paying viewers to watch it until then. They could've been negotiating while keeping the service running. Instead they chose to use us as leverage against Nextstar. I would imagine it's blowing up in their faces as I see people are leaving Directv in droves.  I don't know who's running the operation at Directv but they have no idea what they're doing 

@4CDAD 

Well if you are not so "simple minded" how about you and others offer Nexstar that you will pick up the bill for the increase that the rest of us don't want to pay. Or if you are within range, use a regular antenna for the free broadcast.

I didn't go to pay TV for my free locals and am tired the ongoing increasing rates that happen every time these channel owners negotiate their next carriage agreement. I get both need to make choices that best works for them as a business, but because of it affecting the bill in the end it is less that I side with DirecTV and more that I side against Nexstar.

If you think they have no idea what they are doing then go work for them and show how it is done if you are an an expert on the internal workings of a TV provider and a channel owner.

@Juniper 

You're simple minded if you think pulling the plug on your customers two months ago was a good business move as opposed to letting them keep the channels they're PAYING for while you negotiate. Sorry, I'll try to explain in crayon next time so you can grasp it. 

My entire argument is based off of DTV refusing NS offer to keep the channels through OCT 21st, while negotiations were going on. All the other crap is just white noise from DTV fanboys.

@Juniper 

"They are not crawling to Nexstar begging them to come back."

Yeah, well they may very well be when the body count starts piling up".

They're already WAY overprice compared to other streaming providers, an now they cut their nose off to spite their face by not allowing their customers access to the channels at no price increase while they negotiate. 

They then announce this "sports central" crap which doesn't  even apply to college football. Oh and you have to use their Gemini devices to access it which by the way are $120.00, plus an advance receiver fee. 

Are they trying to run off customers? Maybe the guy running the show is a Dish Network or UTTV plant.