Solve the problem with ESPN & ABC!

@Ebrewer3906 

We are not trying to be a (Edited per community guidelines) either. It was simply pointed out that changing service doesn't truly solve the issue. It is temporary as all TV providers go through these negotiations. There is no defending going on but pointing out the reality of the situation. With TV provider trying to mitigate cost issue and network owner (Disney in this case) wanting to increase costs, we customers are caught in the middle.

Do you want the channels back sooner and just accept the increased costs, or would you rather be patient for a while to minimize any cost increases? That is where we are at. Some people value that content more than price, but myself I want to minimize those adjustments as much as possible (preferably avoid completely, but unfortunately that never happens).

With Disney's ownership of ESPN, they seem to have the most leverage. This is where I think House of Mouse has grown too large.

As for $20, consider that Disney channels are only a fraction of your programming package. So the time they have been off hasn't eaten up that $20 in value yet. Your personal value of the channels doesn't change how much of your package cost they actually are.

Thanks for the math spin Juniper. I'm well aware of how many channels I get vs how many I use. Being patient as the most poplar sport in the country gets underway is a tall ask. It's not like this happened in July when the only things on are baseball and golf. This is happening during the beginning of College Football and the NFL. I'll assume you're aware of how many people in this country watch those games and all of the programming tied into them? It's the timing of this issue more than the issue. The issue is business which happens. How does the issue just so happen to coincide with Football for leverage, and how could it have been avoided? What's going on is obvious, we are asking you to speed it the effe up and stop insulting our intelligence in the process. Thanks. 

As the saying goes...

Your mileage may vary, but... I called in for my $20 and the agent was able to give $30 because she "found another $10 discount."

I have to call back next month, of course, but I'll GLADLY take the extra $10.

I suspect it could be a little more, depending on taxes...do they take these discounts before or after tax? I always forget to look.

@Ebrewer3906 - the timing isn’t accidental. The networks/content providers are very aware of when they have the most leverage and time their contract expirations appropriately. 

I recommend not doing anything rash.  These disputes rarely last very long, and all TV services suffer them.

Keep the $20 and your horrible service everyone go find better provider you can get a better deal switching to anew provider for the first year .

I can put up with a little bit of blank screens for a while, if the end result keeps our bills from big  increases. 

Seems to me, if I could get a better deal from another provider, I would take it and quit wasting my time here. But then again, it's just a rant! Good luck in your next adventure.

@Juniper, you are correct but having lived in a first world environment all my life the change is frustrating especially considering I could just stream cell service for better results.  Besides Directv sends me mailers touting the excellent service and signal.  I pay the price, can't use ANY of the services I pay for.  Don't get me started on trying to watch something on demand....have you heard the term buffering?  All I see.

Cheers and have a good day

Since Directv is in negotiations with Disney,  is it possible to use the YouTubeTV free 21 day trial without cancelling the Directv?  I want to keep DTV but I also want to be able to watch some college football on ESPN until DTV gets those channels back.  Anyone know the answer to this?

Sure, just sign up. I subscribe to both.

@Ebrewer3906 

There was no spin and I am certainly not insulting your intelligence, though I do say your perception seems a bit narrow to me. I was providing a realistic perspective regarding the situation. As for how it just so happens to coincide, that is how it works in Disney's favor (or any other network this happens with). They bank on upsetting sports viewers enough to leverage the TV provider (DirecTV in this case) to cave to the demand of higher rates. That timing does not work in DirecTV's favor.

Even non sports channels do something similar. Such as AMC a few years ago threatening to pull the feed in the middle of The Walking Dead season when popularity gave AMC more pull.

So DirecTV continues negotiating to minimize cost increase or they just give Disney what they want and raise the bill that much more. Which do you want?

As pointed out carriage agreements ending at key timing for sports, or having disputes happen at that time, would be what the network owners want, not the TV providers. But sure speed it all up if you are willing to shoulder the increase the rest of us don't want.

Please let me know where I can watch the Presidential debate and how I can get my $20 credit for the disruption in service.  I don't care about the Disney channel, I want ABC access.

YouTube TV is available as an app on the Directv stream boxes. Possibly a work around to access missing channels while still using Directv. 3 week free trial. Haven’t tried it yet, but likely by Saturday. Has anyone tried this?