NBC4 Washington

There’s nothing wrong with my system. Every Directv user in the DC area is having the same issue. This has been going on for almost a year now.

Call the news station. There’s nothing DIRECTV can do about it because they have no control over what they can do with a channel’s broadcast. Their job is to deliver the content.

So far (for over a year) directv and NBC4 have just pointed the finger at each other over this one. I don't know how you break this deadlock. Maybe complain to the FCC

I did complain to the FCC. You see how it helped.

More folks need to call Directv and complain. Too many people are complacent over this issue.

You need to complain to BOTH DirecTV and NBC4's station engineering manager. This is a long-standing issue that both parties must address to fix the station's feed to DirecTV. 

It is unlikely there is anything wrong with Barryducker's system since I am experiencing the same issue and ever other channel on my system comes in fine.  This has been an ongoing issue FOR YEARS that DTV continues to ignore.  I've called DTV numerous times but can't get them to do anything!

@Wannabe32 

no one here ever said it was his system..

Reference was made to his dish alignment which is part of his system.  

If the issue is on the channel's end, then DirecTV cannot fix it themselves. NBC4 would need to fix the feed they send over to the TV provider.

With the ongoing issue, I would make sure any BBB complaint is done for both DirecTV and NBC4. And if they both comeback pointing the finger at each other, than a FCC complaint may be needed. The question being is the issue solely on one side or is the issue between both? That will determine who needs to fix.

I’m going to repeat a portion of the email I received from somebody (who will remain anonymous) at NBC 4 in April:

Through the Olympics until yesterday, DirecTV was using a fiber optic cable path between our NBC Hub operations In Denver, to the DirecTV satellite uplink in Kansas City.  Apparently the interim fiber cable suffered what’s known as ‘backhoe fade’ somewhere between Colorado and Kansas City. 

Fortunately, Verizon recently installed a brand new fiber cable between our studios in Washington D.C. and the DirecTV uplink in Herndon.  We are providing them NBC-4 programming down the new cable, but their technical folks are delayed in switching over to the new link.  In the meantime, they claim the priority is to restore the path between Kansas City to Denver, because of not being sure when they can get tech’s to make the cross-connect to the new path in Herndon.  We have no idea when either of these options will be completed. 

And almost 6 months later, nothing has been  done. I’ve wasted hours talking to offshore support who have no clue. 

So if I'm reading the response you received from NBC back in April the problem is lack of Direct TV's action to complete the connection to the new cable link from DC to Herndon ("but their technical folks are delayed in switching over to the new link").  Why am I not surprised!

This problem was raised over a year ago on this forum.  Over 6 months ago DIRECTVhelp stated "We indeed keep working on this situation, we do appreciate your patience and rest assured we'll do everything in our hands to provide you with the best service possible.

Direct TV will take immediate action when it comes to raising prices or reducing package content, but they seem to drag their feet when it comes to fixing a known issue or providing acceptable customer service.

When AT&T bought it, things went down the 🚽. 

Over the phone customer support, even if not "offshore", will have no details on this as that is more backend engineering. But taking that email at face value, that would put the responsibility on DirecTV for restoring the original line or switching over to the new one. Logistic challenges and short staffing of techs since the pandemic are likely a big factor in the delay.

But at least we now have an answer as to what is going on.