ABC Network access

TV channel owners continue demanding more money from providers like DIRECTV. These prices are outrageously increasing and DIRECTV has no choice but to have the channel temporarily dropped while negotiations occur. If DTV were to continue carrying the channel with the current rates, prices would jack up for us customers. 

There are a few solutions to your problem. One, you can set up an over-the-air (OTA) antenna to continue enjoying ABC. These antennas are a one-time purchase and you never have to pay.

Second, you can download the ABC app on your phone/tablets and streaming devices to continue enjoying content there. This is usually free of charge but otherwise you login with DIRECTV as the TV provider for authentication purposes.

No one here can tell you when you will get your local channel back but disputes going on this long is very unusual. I wasn’t aware there was any ongoing dispute that old. Who is the owner of your local station?

The local channel is WTVO and is owned by Nexstar Media Group.  Their website (Rockford News & Weather | Rockford, IL | MyStateline.com) has a large red colored banner describing how DISH has forced WTVO off their network and provides a phone number to call and complain.  But there is nothing on the WTVO website about DirectTv doing the same thing.  Strange!

Here’s what DIRECTV TV promise itself says:

Service updates for DIRECTV in Rockford IL

We’ve been working with Mission Broadcasting, the owner of WTVO-ABC/MNT, to reach an agreement so you can get its programs the same way as you always do. Unfortunately, Mission blocked access to our Rockford customers and recently pulled WTVO-ABC/MNT from DISH Network customers living here too.

By law, Mission can refuse any compromise we offer and has the right to suspend WTVO-ABC/MNT from your cchannel lineup—which we had wanted to avoid. Broadcasters like Mission will often suspend cable, satellite, or streaming customers’ access for a brief period in an attempt to negotiate higher rates for themselves for the next three or more years. Mission is now putting local DISH customers through a second blackout in as many recent renewals.

We will continue to work toward an agreement to deliver the entertainment our customers want at the best possible value. In the past few years, we have successfully renewed the right to provide about 200 ABC stations much like this one around the country and you can expect that to happen here in Rockford soon too. Fortunately, there are several ways to keep watching most WTVO-ABC/MNT programs during the time it typically takes to work through these situations.

Even though the Chicago Bears missed the NFL playoffs this year, local fans can still enjoy the upcoming NFC and AFC Championship Games on Sunday, Jan. 29. The San Francisco 49ers visit the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship, and that game remains available on FOX. Later that night, the Kansas City Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship, and that game remains available on CBS.

As far as any other programs go, you can watch for free over the air on channels 17 and 18 and typically stream WTVO-ABC/MNT shows at the station website. ABC network programs are available at ABC.com and espn.com, as well as the ABC and ESPN mobile apps. You can also take advantage of free trials for certain streaming services like Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ that have many of the same series or events.

We totally get that this is still an unfortunate inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Please check tvpromise.com for future updates, and thanks so much for being a valued DIRECTV customer.

* DIRECTV Stream is for Non-Commercial Business Use only, and subject to license and copyright laws. Other streaming services may be for Non-Commercial Business Use only.

To thank you for your patience until the situation with Mission Broadcasting is resolved, we're offering you a one-time credit of $10. Please choose your service below:

• DIRECTV / U-Verse —sign in to your account
• DIRECTV STREAM — please visit here

@mfunfsinn 

Intelligence and "good faith" do not guarantee a timeline on any negotiation completing. A business has to look at long term value. And keep in mind that locals (network owned or affiliate stations) have been playing hardball more in recent years trying to increase costs that much more.

Like many others, I did not go to pay TV for my free over-the-air (OTA) locals. Why should TV providers, and us customers per our bills, pay more for channels that are free over the regular airways? You may be willing to add further cost just to get the channel back sooner, but I would prefer longer negotiations to minimize (ideally avoid but that is unlikely) any cost increase.

So I say a quicker negotiation that further increases costs would not be a sign of intelligence but just quickly caving and going for the more expensive option for provider and customers. My suggestion (for those that can) is to use an OTA antenna to get the free broadcast, as well as any other channels in range, to complement the DirecTV service.

Absolutely.

And, with the help of a Local Channel Connector (LCC) on Genie models (with the exception of model HS17) you can integrate these OTA antennas into your DIRECTV guide so you won’t have to change input sources (in my opinion, that can get annoying sometimes.)

If you happen to have an older standalone box like an HR24 you can even get the older antenna modules AM21/N to integrate OTA channels into the Guide as well. 

These can be purchased on eBay or other similar sites. I’m also sure users on here have extra ones (me included). 

I have been in communication with the WTVO station manager Jose Cabezas.  He explained that he has been successful with negotiations with Comcast/Xfinity, Charter and Spectrum, but not Directv.  However, he did not mention the HUGE red banner on the first page of his website, that tells DISH customers that WTVO has been forced out of their line-up and providing a phone number to call about this issue.  There is no such banner for Directv customers.  I asked him why that is?

So, his great negotiation skills do not seem to be working for the two biggest satellite TV providers!  At the same time, the other major network stations have reach agreements with Directv that appears to be acceptable to both parties.  Why can't Mission do the same!

Mr. Juniper, I don't understand your statement that local stations "have been playing hardball more in recent years trying to increase costs that much more."  Increase costs for who?

These negotiations should not take multiple months!  Both organizations are supposed to be dedicated to providing their services to their customers. 

Meanwhile, Directv should be giving their customers a monthly DISCOUNT for these many months without our local ABC station.  They did give me a one-time $10 account credit, which is not a significant amount.  WTVO should be reducing their advertising fees since they are not reaching a large group of customers.

detuch254, thanks for the information about integrating the OTA antenna signal into the Directv Genie unit.  That is far more information than I received from my conversation with Directv tech support!  However, I should not have to do this since I continue to pay Directv for providing me with the ABC station.  Do you have a knowledgeable tech contact at Directv that could provide their authorized instructions AND the hardware you describe (at no charge) to integrate the OTR channels into the Genie?

Thank you!

@mfunfsinn 

Unfortunately being I’m a customer like you I don’t have any relations to tech support. I do know a friend of a friend who has been employed by DIRECTV since the early days as a service technician but he doesn’t work as a CSR. 
And, LCCs are scarce by DIRECTV. In other words, they are hard to come by these days and the only site you can likely get them from would be eBay. If you do decide to purchase one, let me know when you get it so I can help you set it up with an antenna. BEFORE buying the LCC, ensure you can receive this station reliably with an antenna. Also, be sure you have a Genie model HR44 or HR54.

Links here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225391244784?hash=item347a5d75f0:g:4mYAAOSwr4Zj2oZu&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoApYdP9JUo0cPWHrXLNUYikaNrniEfOujQVduxK3xL8cYG%2FHrR3Dk6fQkT%2B5PoPEy%2F5ZRZsS3FArM3kDeHB77EIoeoV7ZbhxbmDrA%2BR3fjfPkMu3XRtlEnPHd2Gqx%2Bv9xxJqjFACLGy6UwQJGfb4nLMkZZdvIHxL0D2B98LuHNOTfEbHk81ga7I8PcvDpl%2BRDo3nGIhvPFnlxl%2B8fAisJRA%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6aC3_bBYQ

OR

https://www.ebay.com/itm/404122976104?hash=item5e179b3f68:g:NEcAAOSwPDhjzw7w&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsHeaDbxCzywCUCBlpjlS9Ix6UEVyFCiN6KFo%2F7FAFHijMwBCPYXmdBSMp9tUVfjGO4fxc1rUEeNUq4%2BURjegya4iYE1cdUngGxk6GLkWIIWBHhGnlZzcCKhG27wkLBy74jjqsI%2F3iXt0vVE0tel%2B7XhvwnCyLN7uYkABxXAdkZ3ua4rS3%2FVyqxogj6gYBA%2FjzUkC%2BIzsiZWSy8Ui5HGhIQvY9tPnWLqs3wx3guTBSBHZ%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_6L4vbBYQ

@mfunfsinn 

Mr. Juniper, I don't understand your statement that local stations "have been playing hardball more in recent years trying to increase costs that much more."  Increase costs for who?

Those local channels do not provide their feed for free to TV providers. So DirecTV and others have to pay for it, as well as us customers per our monthly bills. Inreases in operating costs to the TV providers is naturally factored in when our bills go up. So the costs increase for us customers in the end.

As mentioned, it doesn't matter how intelligent either side is. There is no law of nature that requires two sides to come to an agreement at a time you like (or ever). It is unfortunate when such negotiations go on this long, but nothing says one must cave to the demands of the other.

A regular antenna on your TV can be used as a backup. With a Local Channel Connector (LCC) for the 2nd/3rd generation Genie (HR44/HR54) or the AM21 for earlier non-Genie models (and maybe 1st gen Genie HR34?) allows you to get those directly to your DirecTV box without switching inputs plus can record as well. Might even get other locals in range (such as sub-channels) that you wouldn't have had.

The AM21 is a legacy accessory, but some of them do float around as people sell their old ones. The LCC is tricky to come by as never left beta testing, possibly because it is not compatible with the Genie-2 (HS17) for some unknown reason.

If the local is not getting the fees it wants from TV providers, it is less likely to lower costs to advertisers. Doesn't get money from one, then it might even start increasing costs on the other side to make up for it.

Both organizations are supposed to be dedicated to providing their services to their customers. 

Not exactly. Both sides are dedicated to turning a profit. Local wants to keep rates high for their revenue, DirecTV wants lower costs (not just for their revenue, but the higher bills go the more upset customers become). And remember with the locals free over those regular airways, on principal why should we keep paying more?

More likely Comcast/Xfinity, Charter and Spectrum just caved and payed them what they where asking.

Juniper, You seem to have a problem with companies making a profit.  Making a profit is not evil and is what has made this country great.  It only happens when corporations and businesses provide a product or service that customers what to buy.  If the price and service are acceptable to the customer, then they will buy it; it's all about the customer and if done well, profits will follow. 

I would not object to a slight increase in my Directv rate if they can justify it, but so far they have offered no good reason or solution for their stalemate with Mission.

Mission has not explained why they cannot reach agreement with these ABC stations while their competitors at other major networks are being carried by Directv.  That tells me the bigger problem is with Mission.

I am not happy with Mission or Directv regarding this matter, because they are not successful in getting this resolved.

You may choose not to pay for the convenience of Directv satellite service, but I do, along with probably millions of other customers. 

shannon02, It's not "caving".  It's the result of negotiating to get the job done for the customer.

It is not negotiating when Mission says pay us this or we will remove the feed and they pay it.

Juniper, You seem to have a problem with companies making a profit. 

I do not have a problem with companies making a profit. That statement was in response to you saying they are supposed to be dedicated to providing service to us (the customer). Point is, they are not dedicated to provide everything we want, only enough that lines up with their bottom line.

So was not having a problem at all, simply provding a realistic perspective.

You may choose not to pay for the convenience of Directv satellite service, but I do, along with probably millions of other customers. 

Huh? You misread something. I am a DirecTV customer, which if you did not infer from context I state clearly in the end of all my posts, so of course I pay for the service. I simply do not want my bill to increase for my free locals, or in this case your locals. Our bills do not itemize locals based on where we live, like Regional Sport Network (RSN) fees, so they spread that cost over all customers whether we get that exact local or not.

And when negotiations end up at a stand-off for months, then it is "caving" as one side has to cave to the other at that point. It is not "getting the job done for the customer" as in the end the negotiation is to serve the business, which hopefully lines up with what the customer wants but is not required to.

Juniper, "Caving" is not a term that is appropriate for a business transaction.  It is an OPINION.  Negotiations are not "black and white" or "I win and you lose" processes.  Each side must determine what works for both of them and arrive at a result that is going to be acceptable to their customers, or they will lose customers.

I am merely a customer wanting to get what I pay for and really don't care about the details that Directv and Mission are dealing with.  I have spent 36 years in corporate and private business, and there is no doubt that nothing gets done without "give and take" on both sides.  It's not complicated.  They have to talk and bargain in good faith, with intelligence.