WGN Direct TV

Channel will be back when Nexstar allows it.

If DirecTV caves to Nexstar, then our bills go up that much more. I am not wanting to pay more for channels I get OTA for free. Perhaps you could let Nexstar know that you and others in Chicago are willing to "pay up" for the rest of us that don't want to.

Try an OTA antenna or watch one of the many other channels you have. Lots of us went to pay TV to get what our locals couldn't provide.

We know this is an unexpected situation. We expect you can enjoy WGN soon. Nexstar, owner of NewsNation, is demanding to significantly increase how much you will have to pay to continue to receive this channel. We’re working hard to make sure you keep this station. Read more: TVPromise.com. Jhoan, DIRECTV Community Specialist

The info webpage lists as: https://www.directv.com/tvpromise/ 

I am willing to pay more for WGN and stop paying for the movie channels that continue to show the same movies over and over again. I am a Chicagoan and need my WGN!!!

I am happy to pay more for WGN and get rid of the movie channels that continue to show the same movies over and over again. I am a Chcagoan and I need my WGN!!!

You might be happy, but not everyone would be happy to pay more every time a station's corporate owner demands more and more money to deliver FREE off-air channels. 

I realize not everyone would be happy paying more but DirecTV can sell it like it does with the rest of it's channels. If you want to watch Oprah's channels you have to pay extra for them, if you want to watch channel 230 you have to pay extra for it. DirecTV makes money by charging for certain stations so they can do the same thing with WGN. I'll pay for it and you won't. 

DTV averages the cost of all local channels they carry into the base cost of the channel packages so they aren't going to change it.   DTV has no control over what a channel does with their programing.

I am willing to pay more for WGN

Many of us are not. I don't want my bills going up for someone else's local channel. (remember locals are not charged per area but spread out over all customers).

I am a Chicagoan and need my WGN!!!

TV is entertainment. If you are finding that you "need" it so are experiencing withdrawal, then time to take a break.

Watch another channel, read a book, use antenna for the free broadcast. The channel will not return any sooner than Nexstar allows it.

And no, DirecTV cannot charge more for individual channels. The channel owners package them to TV providers. This is because multiple channels can have one owner. This is how the industry is setup. No difference from AMC, Viacom, Nexstar, Tegna, Mission, etc.

This is the reality of how it works. Doesn't change just because you reside in Chicago, you're no more special than anyone else.

I am now streaming wgn for free via You Tube. It may be time to drop direct tv altogether.

@queenjane 

If all you watch are locals, then don't go with any pay TV provider.

Otherwise understand that all providers (YouTube's TV service included) go through carriage negotiations. Not a single provider is immune from having it pulled if the channel owner (Nexstar the big one right now) wants more money.

If switching is what you prefer to do, then that is up to you. Creating a forum account just to announce your possible leaving to strangers seems like a lot of steps that isn't productive. No need to announce departure, this isn't an airport. If leaving is your decision, then call DirecTV as it will not happen here.

I have been a subscriber of DIRECTV for over 25 years and for 25 years WGN was part of that subscription. They have the best local news, and by local I mean Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin & Indiana. I have friends in Florida and Georgia who watch it. Their morning news team is the best in the country as is their entertainment reporter, Dean Richards. If you don't like loyal subscribers voicing their opinions and letting DIRECTV know that if this isn't resolved soon we will be cancelling our subscriptions then STOP coming to this forum and voicing your inane comments. Get a life Juniper. 

@Juniper 

hey it’s a forum to comment on and I will. It’s a community forum and I’ve given the unavailability of the channel time. This is how they hear from their customers. If you don’t like my opinion, keep on scrolling.

In this day and age of a vast variety of streaming services it’s quite easy to find alternatives. If you pause or take too long, subscribers will move on. 

and who cares if I created the account to comment here?

@mrosem1958 

If you want to let DirecTV know, then you call them.

Let Nexstar know you want it resolved without their higher rates. Because if DirecTV just caves then bills go up that much more. Nexstar is one of the biggest offenders on using us customers as leverage.

I have no less life than you. Just refuse to be controlled by a local TV channel owner.

@queenjane 

This is a public forum that is mainly customer to customer. How they hear from their customers is taking the time to call in. That way any grievance you have is noted on a verified account.

So calling is how you talk to DirecTV and manage your account. Though I would suggest contacting Nexstar as well since they are the ones wanting to raise costs and pulled their channels away (as is their right) to use us customers as leverage.