Loss of channels

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@AngryD wrote:

With no warning about ongoing issues between nexstar and directv, I woke up the other day to the tvpromise.com screen instead of my morning news. This is not acceptable and I would like to know when this dispute is going to end?

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When does any dispute or argument end? When both sides finish.

Agreement came up between them so they are negotiating the new rates. Apparently Nexstar is pushing for a bigger increase then normal which is the heart of the issue. The channel will be back once both sides come to a new agreement.

https://tvpromise.att.com/

What the heck is going on with this missing Channel/service? Are customers pawns in your negotiations?  Will I get a rebate from AT&T for not receiving contracted service? When will NBC come back to the channel line-up?

Susan 

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@jensen3 wrote:

BRING BACK ABC!!!

Technically AT&T is in breach of my contract! We are paying for our local channels and yet not receiving!

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Technically they are not in breach as the terms of service all channels to change at anytime. All TV providers have this clause as they don't own the channels.

The channels will be back when the owner (Nexstar) allows them.

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@skinsman wrote:

So how am I suppose to watch the race tonight on NBC. Should I get another service provider.

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Plug in a regular antenna for the free broadcast. Nice backup during negotiations like this. Also might pick up additional locals in range that are not carried.

Another service provider will not save you. They all go through these kind of negotiations as they don't own the channels. This is just your current provider's turn.

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@MaeveJoi wrote:

A MONTH ago I lost TWO LOCAL NBC channels from my South Alabama AT&T/DIRECTV line-up. When I contacted customer service I was assured this WAS TEMPORARY and my channels (10 & 44) would soon be returned.

I am PAYING FOR THESE CHANNELS.

Over the Independence Day holiday I LOST TWO MORE LOCAL CHANNELS Fox network this time channels 5 & 55 provided by Nexstar.

I live in a VERY RURAL LOCATION and CAN NOT GET THESE CHANNELS unless I BUY a tall antenna, a converter box, and PAY SOMEONE to install it. I am DISABLED & on Social Security Disability  so I can't AFFORD to do this.

And WHY should I HAVE TO since I am PAYING AT&T FOR THESE SERVICES.

We are in the MIDDLE of HURRICANE SEASON and RELY on LOCAL MEDIA to GET LIFE SAVING INFORMATION.

We were PROMISED by AT&T when they merged with DirecTV that we would CONTINUE to GET LOCAL CHANNELS with ZERO BLACK OUTS. We are PAYING AT&T and have absolutely NOTHING to do with the CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS between service providers & AT&T.

AT&T is LYING about the ability to STREAM LOCAL CHANNELS ONLINE because when you ENTER YOUR SERVICE PROVIDER you are BLOCKED from receiving these channels whether thru AT&T portals or DIRECTLY ON THE STATION WEBSITES.

AT&T has the attitude that since these are supposedly "free over the air" channels that AT&T should NOT HAVE to PAY FOR THEM. It doesn't WORK THAT WAY and AT&T KNOWS this.

I have 2 options for getting my LOCAL CHANNELS back....BUY pricey equipment and have it installed (PAY for it) or SWITCH TO DISH.

I have another option - REPORT AT&T to my State Attorney General's FRAUD dept. for FAILURE TO PROVIDE SERVICES that I AM PAYING FOR. I urge other customers to do the same.

My question to AT&T is this....are you going to SURVIVE LOSING MILLIONS OF CUSTOMERS because ya'll are GREEDY and don't want to PAY providers for the SERVICES I AM PAYING FOR? What AT&T is doing is like PAYING your RENT to the apartment complex manager & the manager NOT PAYING THE OWNER.

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There cannot be a promise of "no blackouts". TV providers do not own the channels so cannot force them to stay. Currently they are negotiating with Nexstar for continued carriage, but Nexstar wants a substantial rate increase which is the issue.

There is no fraud as you are never guaranteed one channel will always be there. They are subject to change, as is in the terms of all TV providers. This is just DirecTV's turn with this local owner.

(d) Our Programming Changes.

Many factors affect the availability, cost and quality of programming and may influence the decision to raise prices and the amount of any increase. These include, among others, programming and other costs, consumer demand, market and shareholder expectations, and changing business conditions. Accordingly, we reserve the unrestricted right to change, rearrange, add or delete our programming packages, the selections in those packages, our prices, technologies used to deliver the Service, and any other Service we offer, at any time.

Digital converter boxes can be found reasonably low cost. Though when the digital conversion happened years ago, they were provided free (so many per household), so surprised you don't already have one. You might check with friend's/family to see if they have any extra.

The other concern is a digital convertor box is needed for old non-HD TVs that don't have the digital tuner built in. If you have old MPEG-2 (SD only) boxes and receiving dish, then you will need to contact DirecTV for their complimentary MPEG swap as that old equipment will soon be unusable (MPEG-2 shutdown started April 2019). If you have MPEG-4 (SD and HD capable) boxes and dish, just still using a very old TV, then you are ok for the time being. But keep in mind SD is on the way out.

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@Gateway63 wrote:

What the heck is up with not only losing one local station, but now two?  Channel 8 was where all the golf

was broadcast, and I can't tell you how frustrating this is.  If Nexstar wants more money give it to them!  Also getting pretty sick of losing signals with a little rain.  I can understand ice, heavy snow, or a torrential downpour, but c'mon AT&T.  You will definitely be losing customers if you can't get these issues resolved, especially the local channels of 8 and 13.  Have been watching them for over 50 years and want them back!

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Realize that giving Nexstar more money means raising our bills that much more. You may be fine with increased cost, but the rest of us are not.

Plug in a antenna to enjoy the free broadcast while the negotiations are going on. You may even get other locals in the area that are not carried (like many sub-channels). Still an option as it was 50 years ago.

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@rsbh60 wrote:

These are the very comments that suggest the ACE contributors are all pro ATT and biased. Why should Nexstar continue to provide a signal without a contract, it seems this is a prident step on their part to get ATT to come to a resolution? Why does every ACE contributor see this as a Nexstar issue and not a joint failure for these two corporations to negotiate and reach a deal before the prior contract expired? Getting tired of seeing you ACE individuals skew the facts in ATT's favor when it is clear there is culpability on both sides, and as customers we pay ATT to provide a service. They are the one's we will blame when they fail to negotiate in a timely fashion and fail to communicate to their customer base the possible impact of this negotiation weeks prior to having channels pulled.

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We are saying it would be nice if Nexstar provides the channels during negotiations as a sign of good faith. We understand they are not required to. Just against any further rate increases, especially from locals that we can get free over the airways. I went to DirecTV for the channels I couldn't get, not my free locals. Would be satisfied if I got the option to remove locals and lower my bill.

Yes there are both sides to it. I am on the side that is fighting to minimize any possible rate increase (ideally prevent it, but realistically that will not happen), not the side pushing for higher costs. I get Nexstar has to make money, but I don't want that much more on my bill.

Usually these negotiations complete with us customers being unaware as everything continues as normal on our side. So TV providers have no reason to say, hey channel owner can pull their feed at any time just like they always have been able to so we want to scare you for something we have no knowledge that it will happen. Channel owner pulls their feed with no advanced notice, which they can do at any time as they own the broadcast rights, so we can only be informed when it happens. There have been a few negotiations where the channel owner was up front they were considering pulling the feed, and of course the TV provider informs customers in that case, but if the channel says nothing about it then the TV provider has no advanced notice to tell us.

Stop posting that you have no blame AT&T.  That is plain stupidity.  Sick of corporate greed and billionaires arguements.  AT&T is worth 200 Billion.  The Median income is 50K....stop jerking us around and do your job or Comcast will get my business.  Seriously people are voicing their concern and all your posts boil down to it's not my fault....I didn't start it....GROW UP!

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@Juniper 

Nexstar and DirecTV's agreement came up. As is their right, Nexstar pulled the channel while they negotiate. DirecTV cannot force them to stay during the negotiations. Since pay TV is for channels beyond locals, I say use a regular antenna to get the free broadcast while they negotiate. Might even pull up some additional channels in range, such as sub-channels that DirecTV wouldn't have.

 

DirecTV did not break their agreement. All TV providers have in their terms that channels are subject to change at any time. They don't own the channels after all.

 

(d)Our Programming Changes.

Many factors affect the availability, cost and quality of programming and may influence the decision to raise prices and the amount of any increase. These include, among others, programming and other costs, consumer demand, market and shareholder expectations, and changing business conditions. Accordingly, we reserve the unrestricted right to change, rearrange, add or delete our programming packages, the selections in those packages, our prices, technologies used to deliver the Service, and any other Service we offer, at any time.

 

 

@rsbh60 wrote:

I assume if someone has a two year contract, Direct TV cannot decide to raise prices without violating that contract. I also do not see how changing the line up, which is their 'right' does not also violate the contract. Sure, ATT has to have the ability to change based on negotiations, but those under a contract for implied services need to have the right to void that contract.

 

Again, looking for one single comment from a 'customer like me' ACE responder that is not biased toward ATT. Kind of like a Unicorn.....

 

 

 

DirecTV can raise the rates without violating the contract. The last several years we have had a annual rate increase because of the higher rates the channels charge. This price adjustment happens regardless if we have a service agreement or not. The part of the residential agreement I quoted specifically covers that. So it is in the contract that it is their right, as is with all TV providers. Channels negotiate all the time as they each have their own agreements which end at different times. Sometimes they complete without us knowing, sometimes we see disputes like the current one with Nexstar. If a single negotiation could void our service agreement, then service agreements would mean nothing as they would be invalid all the time.

I am just give you the answer based on the reality of the situation, even though it is not the answer you want. The packages do not guarantee a certain amount of locals or any specific local. As long as we get one local our bill is not lowered. However, if no locals at all could be provided, then DirecTV does have a "no local" version of the package for those areas. Unfortunately it is not an optional package, otherwise I would consider it to reduce the money that goes to the locals with the ever increasing prices.

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@TheBear69 wrote:

So my question is if we are going to lose NBC and other channels thanks to this issue with the provider, will they lower are rates? Offer other channels to replace them? Or don't they want happy customers? 

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Lowering rates is unlikely as all costs go up over the years. As long as one local is provided then the package remains the same cost. However, if a channel is gone to the point it is not coming back then that might be taken account during the next rate adjustment. Would not prevent it, but could minimize it from what it would have been.

They are not allowed to provide you another channel to replace it with. When it comes to locals they are only allowed to provide you what is in your Designated Market Area (DMA). By Federal regulation they are forbidden from giving you a local affiliate from another DMA. This rule is a big factor in why some local owners keep doing this during negotiations.

TV providers of course want happy customers. They cannot force the channel owner to return the feed, caving in to the higher rates would just upset customers anyway, and Federal regulations prevent alternate options. That is the reality of the situation.

It is amazing to me that we were not informed ahead of time about the loss of these channels.  Since we are paying AT&T to have these channels in our package, will we be credited for the days we do not have this service?  Is this not a violation to the contract we have with them?  They advertise that with the package we choose we will have our local channels.  Why should we have to pay for something we are not receiving.  If I were to call AT&T today for new service I would be willing to bet that they would tell me that with the package I choose I would receive all the local channels just to find out that that is not the case.  They would not tell you that some of the local channels are blacked out because they would not get their business.  It is all about the all mighty dollar.  This is called greed.  Greed will get you nowhere.  Where would AT&T be if everyone cancelled their service?