Nexstar Dispute

Check out this video ....

https://youtu.be/rppTzSP5NI4?si=uL3bcO13XE-fQRWt

Nexstar is to blame here, not TV providers that are fighting to keep costs down so they stop hemorrhaging subscribers. 

I have the entertainment package and am thinking about subscribing to EXPN+ for 9.99 a month. Most NCAA football games are available. 

@KBNUCK 

That was not 100% false. I understand there was a bit more info to clarify, but you were told correctly.

Nexstar owns the broadcast rights so they chose to pull it instead of leaving it on while negotiating as a sign of good faith. Yes they offered a limited extension instead, but that would have expired during football season which would have been worse (having before meant people could plan ahead.).

So yes, Nexstar didn't just freely allow the stations to stay on but offered a conditionl extension instead. DirecTV could have accepted the extension but for understandable reasons did not, but they cannot force Nexstar to stay as they do not have the rights to have to allow (give permission) for Nexstar to leave.

In the end it is a two-way street between both companies. But as Nexstar is demanding a rate hike for 'free' over-the-air channels, that is where the primary issue is (in my opinion).

No, no, no… You said the reason Directv did not accept the offer was because they didn't want to risk having the channel pulled in the middle of the football season. Which, would've left their customers scrambling. I can quote the exact verbiage you used if you would like. Don't start waffling now. 

@KBNUCK 

Yes I referred to the limited extension offered by Nexstar would have expired during the football season. I stand by that if they did that it would have been worse when people had their football games pulled while they were already watching during the season. With Nexstar pulling the feed in July this gave people plenty of time to consider options.

That is not waffling. But I don't think that matters to you. Bottom line is the channels are gone and you are not entitled to them. If you want to watch then you will need to find another option to do so. Good luck.

I do hope this resolves soon so all can move on and neither Nexstar nor another local affiliate owner has a repeat of this situation.

Sigh since some are on a conspiracy wagon with how upset they are...

I am not a fan of this situation. I have acknowledged this is a two-way situation between DirecTV and Nexstar. Certainly would like it resolved sooner than later.

Both DirecTV and Nexstar are acting within their rights. Though certainly questionable on Nexstar involving other local affiliates to leverage their position.

I believe that if DirecTV accepted the limited extension that would have ended during football season would have been worse. Having it happen earlier allowed people to consider their options and be prepared. Would have been best for the viewer if Nexstar just allowed the feed to continue until a new agreement was reached, but they chose not to do so and offered that special extension instead.

Many of us want to pay TV for what our free locals could not provide. And locals going up in cost does not just affect their viewers but ALL customers as is spread out in the base package cost. For those reasons I am against any local affiliate that further raises rates, not just Nexstar.

I have been upfront about the fact that I am NOT an employee of DirecTV, AT&T, one of their affiliates, etc. I am a customer. Yes I post quite often and do not just blindly agree with the complaining masses. I got help in the forum years ago and started participating more and more. Discussing and providing help/guidance where I can, which sometimes is just a realistic perspective (even if it happens to be one someone doesn't like) is part of my lifestyle now. We each take our paths in life and this just so happen to end up being one of mine.

I have made criticisms about lack of transparency in programming changes (such as Hallmark Movies & Mysteries now in a few packages, not just the Movies Extra Pack), equipment direction (Client-only setups that seem to be heavily pushed right now), lack of higher packages for people who watch little to no sports (Preferred Xtra), and how problematic the transition was when AT&T acquired DirecTV (which has seen some repeats with the new co-owner taking management of DirecTV).

I hope that clearly lays out my perspective, a reality of how part of these negotiations work, and that I am simply a customer even though I participate a lot. I do not ask or demand everyone conforms to my view, but I do ask that even though many are upset that we can discuss maturely without insults and false accusations.

And I do wish good luck on a favorable resolution (channels back without a major cost increase) within the near future regardless if you watch football or not.

Locals and NewsNation return as they finalize an agreement. 

Remember when I said something about the "fine print" in a previous post?

Well, well, well.  Looky here from CNN Business: "While most of Nexstar’s stations will be covered under the new multi-year agreement, DirecTV said 27 stations controlled by Nexstar, but owned by another company, will not fall under the umbrella."

It remains to be seen if those 27 channels (still not identified) are permanently gone from DirecTV or are just awaiting a separate deal.

@fmorriso 

That is where the waters muddy. Nexstar like other companies (Mission, Tegna, etc.) own affiliate stations of the major networks (NBC, Fox, etc.). So that is usually straightforward where agreement is either with channels that are directly network owned or affiliate owned.

Being controlled by Nexstar but owned by another company just confuses matters and (I think) gives too much control into Nexstar's hands. At the very least, it sounds like a deal would need to be made with that other company. But how much influence with Nexstar have on that is the question.

Follow up: Mission Broadcasting owns those 27 stations that are not covered by the recent resolution between Nexstar and DirecTV.   

That dispute has been going on for almost a year (started October 2022) so I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to be resolved.

I suspect that Mission is used by Nexstar purely as a way around the FCC limits on station ownership. Nexstar has purchased stations and transferred the license to Mission but maintained operating control. They’ve also transferred station purchase options to Mission, again keeping control.  And almost all Mission stations are in DMAs where Nexstar already has a station, and in most cases, a single owner can’t own multiple (major network affiliate) stations in the same DMA. So it’s likely Nexstar uses those stations as additional bargaining chips. 

If those 27 stations are owned by Mission but controlled by Nexstar, that seems to be rather an overreach to me. Would allow Nexstar to manipulate other negotiations that would not be fair competition plus getting around rules to avoid monopoly-like situations.

More and more I have reason to side against Nexstar.

I assume that is the core of DIRECTV‘s argument in the anti-trust lawsuit they filed against Nexstar and Mission (and one other station owner) earlier in the year.