Direct TV Customers - Direct TV isn't broadcasting CBS - Contract Dispute

[BuffetParrothead]

I just noticed that channel # 3 CBS isn't available on Direct TV.
ATT, Direct TV and CBS are in negotiations.
Direct TV isn't real good at this since they haven't carried Comcast for years
after negotiations didn't work out??
Comcast is one thing I can live with that but CBS is big!

ATT owns Direct TV so if you have Direct TV call a supervisor at Direct TV
and call ATT - The Loyalty Department.

I just did and told them I have a 5 line personal ATT cell phone acct, ATT home
security, and Direct TV 300+ channels which if they don't get this resolved I'll
shop each one of these around and switch. Mrs Buffett has a ten line business
ATT account.

Request compensation for lack of services while they negotiate.
I just got a $ 20 monthly reduction in rate, while they negotiate, not much
but I'll go back at them for more if this continues.

The more people requesting money back or threatening to cancel the better.

What Tv provider can survive without CBS - Sports, News, Weather, etc.

 

[DiehardPanther]

I just noticed that channel # 3 CBS isn't available on Direct TV.
ATT, Direct TV and CBS are in negotiations.
Direct TV isn't real good at this since they haven't carried Comcast for years
after negotiations didn't work out??
Comcast is one thing I can live with that but CBS is big!

ATT owns Direct TV so if you have Direct TV call a supervisor at Direct TV
and call ATT - The Loyalty Department.

I just did and told them I have a 5 line personal ATT cell phone acct, ATT home
security, and Direct TV 300+ channels which if they don't get this resolved I'll
shop each one of these around and switch. Mrs Buffett has a ten line business
ATT account.

Request compensation for lack of services while they negotiate.
I just got a $ 20 monthly reduction in rate, while they negotiate, not much
but I'll go back at them for more if this continues.

The more people requesting money back or threatening to cancel the better.

What Tv provider can survive without CBS - Sports, News, Weather, etc.

I use that strategy as well with my bill. FYI - They will send out a connector free of charge. I get CBS with it.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

I use that strategy as well with my bill. FYI - They will send out a connector free of charge. I get CBS with it.

Pls explain - what is a connector to get CBS?

 

[DiehardPanther]

Pls explain - what is a connector to get CBS?

It acts like an antenna. You connect it to your box. You will get your local channels (i.e. CBS) + all your other regular channels.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

It acts like an antenna. You connect it to your box. You will get your local channels (i.e. CBS) + all your other regular channels.

Ok
Sounds like another call to Direct TV is in order.

 

[California Panther]

I just noticed that channel # 3 CBS isn't available on Direct TV.
ATT, Direct TV and CBS are in negotiations.
Direct TV isn't real good at this since they haven't carried Comcast for years
after negotiations didn't work out??
Comcast is one thing I can live with that but CBS is big!

ATT owns Direct TV so if you have Direct TV call a supervisor at Direct TV
and call ATT - The Loyalty Department.

I just did and told them I have a 5 line personal ATT cell phone acct, ATT home
security, and Direct TV 300+ channels which if they don't get this resolved I'll
shop each one of these around and switch. Mrs Buffett has a ten line business
ATT account.

Request compensation for lack of services while they negotiate.
I just got a $ 20 monthly reduction in rate, while they negotiate, not much
but I'll go back at them for more if this continues.

The more people requesting money back or threatening to cancel the better.

What Tv provider can survive without CBS - Sports, News, Weather, etc.

same thing with me, I am not getting NBC and CBS through DirecTV due to the Nextstar/ATT dispute/negotiations. Yesterday I called and after going through 2 foreign countries, to the USA to the Loyalty Dept--they gave me $20 off for 12 months, plus $7 off my HBO and $7 off my Showtime. It isn't as easy to negotiate a discount with ATT as it was when DirecTV stood on their own. I swore I was switching to Dish--they don't like to hear that, always tell them that! They offered me the connector thing to get the banned network channels, but said it might not work--anyone else have it and does it work?

 

[PittCity]

Use that $ you guys save and purchase a 5 dollar HD antenna and you'll get all your locals free for life.

 

[Black Panther]

same thing with me, I am not getting NBC and CBS through DirecTV due to the Nextstar/ATT dispute/negotiations. Yesterday I called and after going through 2 foreign countries, to the USA to the Loyalty Dept--they gave me $20 off for 12 months, plus $7 off my HBO and $7 off my Showtime. It isn't as easy to negotiate a discount with ATT as it was when DirecTV stood on their own. I swore I was switching to Dish--they don't like to hear that, always tell them that! They offered me the connector thing to get the banned network channels, but said it might not work--anyone else have it and does it work?

I dont have it, but I have yet to call about this problem.I cant get my local CBS.I'm really going to be piss#d if it runs into football season.

 

[DiehardPanther]

same thing with me, I am not getting NBC and CBS through DirecTV due to the Nextstar/ATT dispute/negotiations. Yesterday I called and after going through 2 foreign countries, to the USA to the Loyalty Dept--they gave me $20 off for 12 months, plus $7 off my HBO and $7 off my Showtime. It isn't as easy to negotiate a discount with ATT as it was when DirecTV stood on their own. I swore I was switching to Dish--they don't like to hear that, always tell them that! They offered me the connector thing to get the banned network channels, but said it might not work--anyone else have it and does it work?

The local connector works for me.

 

[California Panther]

The local connector works for me.

what is it? Just a little box that plugs into the back of your DirecTV receiver? Or does it have a small antennae that has to go outside? How do you use it, have to switch away from the DirecTV set up to use it? Sorry but I am somewhat technologically challenged. Can yougive more details, thanks.

 

[PittPanthers90]

Use that $ you guys save and purchase a 5 dollar HD antenna and you'll get all your locals free for life.

LOL, I got mine from 5 below, like you said 5 dollars and it works great.

Just need the most basic of common sense and you can make it work with your tv

 

[DiehardPanther]

what is it? Just a little box that plugs into the back of your DirecTV receiver? Or does it have a small antennae that has to go outside? How do you use it, have to switch away from the DirecTV set up to use it? Sorry but I am somewhat technologically challenged. Can yougive more details, thanks.

A tiny antenna that you will barely notice. It hooks up to your box. Easy to set up.

 

[California Panther]

A tiny antenna that you will barely notice. It hooks up to your box. Easy to set up.

ok, but how do you get from the DirecTV channels to the local channels to use this box?

 

[PittPanthers90]

ok, but how do you get from the DirecTV channels to the local channels to use this box?

Just hook up your antenna to the coax connector on your TV.
And use the input button on your TV remote to switch between the DirectTV connection (which should be HDMI) and antenna

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Use that $ you guys save and purchase a 5 dollar HD antenna and you'll get all your locals free for life.

I tried that with a $ 50 HD antenna from Best Buy.
I got maybe 60 channels but none of the major channels, espn, or others so I returned the antenna.

But I hear others do ok.

It could be location, location, location!

 

[BuffetParrothead]

A tiny antenna that you will barely notice. It hooks up to your box. Easy to set up.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I tried that with a $ 50 HD antenna from Best Buy.
I got maybe 60 channels but none of the major channels, espn, or others so I returned the antenna.

But I hear others do ok.

It could be location, location, location!

Why on Earth would you have thought you were going to get ESPN and the other "major channels" from an over the air antenna?

 

[PittCity]

I think Buffet is messing with us, he has to be , atleast I hope he is.

 

[DiehardPanther]

ok, but how do you get from the DirecTV channels to the local channels to use this box?

You go though an automatic channel setup by simply following the directions. It is easy and you do not have to switch back and forth between anything. The extra channels will appear on your guide. You are making this way more complicated than it needs to be. Call DirecTV and they will send the local connector (which is small) to your house.

 

[crharris8892]

I got tired of the directv shenanigans and their user interface channel guide just annoyed me. last year I went with Comcast Xfinity and haven’t looked back. I have a dead dish looking forlorn in my yard.

 

[JD1976]

I got tired of the directv shenanigans and their user interface channel guide just annoyed me. last year I went with Comcast Xfinity and haven’t looked back. I have a dead dish looking forlorn in my yard.

Xfinity really is the way to go if you aren't of the cord-cutting mindset. We have two homes -- one with Xfinity and one with DirecTV -- and Xfinity's technology and options blow it away. The only reason I keep DTV is for NFL Sunday Ticket, but once the NFL goes to a more traditional streaming service (hopefully by 2020), that will be it for DTV.

 

[California Panther]

You go though an automatic channel setup by simply following the directions. It is easy and you do not have to switch back and forth between anything. The extra channels will appear on your guide. You are making this way more complicated than it needs to be. Call DirecTV and they will send the local connector (which is small) to your house.

thanks for all your help, sorry to ask so many questions

 

[DiehardPanther]

Xfinity really is the way to go if you aren't of the cord-cutting mindset. We have two homes -- one with Xfinity and one with DirecTV -- and Xfinity's technology and options blow it away. The only reason I keep DTV is for NFL Sunday Ticket, but once the NFL goes to a more traditional streaming service (hopefully by 2020), that will be it for DTV.

How much do you pay for Xfinity and what channels do you get?

 

[Farnox]

Xfinity really is the way to go if you aren't of the cord-cutting mindset. We have two homes -- one with Xfinity and one with DirecTV -- and Xfinity's technology and options blow it away. The only reason I keep DTV is for NFL Sunday Ticket, but once the NFL goes to a more traditional streaming service (hopefully by 2020), that will be it for DTV.

I like Xfinity but their price escalations are forcing me to go to just an internet connection and streaming services. They are now charging me over $20 in fees for just local stations and sports access.

 

[mike412]

If you read the press releases from DirecTV, they blame CBS. If you read the press releases from CBS, they blame DirecTV.

All I know is that a few years back consumer groups managed to get included in the cable TV bill a provision which requires all cable and satellite providers to carry all local television stations for free. So someone is breaking the law: either CBS for tying the right to broadcast it to the payment by DirecTV for the Disney package or DirecTV for refusing to carry CBS unless it gets an acceptable deal on Disney, which owns CBS.

If this doesn’t get resolved soon, there is really going to be hell to pay when the NFL season starts and people aren’t able to see NFL games on CBS.

 

[NTOP]

I just noticed that channel # 3 CBS isn't available on Direct TV.
ATT, Direct TV and CBS are in negotiations.
Direct TV isn't real good at this since they haven't carried Comcast for years
after negotiations didn't work out??
Comcast is one thing I can live with that but CBS is big!

ATT owns Direct TV so if you have Direct TV call a supervisor at Direct TV
and call ATT - The Loyalty Department.

I just did and told them I have a 5 line personal ATT cell phone acct, ATT home
security, and Direct TV 300+ channels which if they don't get this resolved I'll
shop each one of these around and switch. Mrs Buffett has a ten line business
ATT account.

Request compensation for lack of services while they negotiate.
I just got a $ 20 monthly reduction in rate, while they negotiate, not much
but I'll go back at them for more if this continues.

The more people requesting money back or threatening to cancel the better.

What Tv provider can survive without CBS - Sports, News, Weather, etc.

They've done that before, won't be long. Just a money squeeze.
I'm glad that I'm away from DirecTV. Lost signal if the wind exceeded 5 knots.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Every year Direct and Dish TV pull this kind of crap before football season and fall lineup. Every year. I don’t think any of these have ever missed a network. It’s ridiculous and why I won’t use them.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

If you read the press releases from DirecTV, they blame CBS. If you read the press releases from CBS, they blame DirecTV.

All I know is that a few years back consumer groups managed to get included in the cable TV bill a provision which requires all cable and satellite providers to carry all local television stations for free. So someone is breaking the law: either CBS for tying the right to broadcast it to the payment by DirecTV for the Disney package or DirecTV for refusing to carry CBS unless it gets an acceptable deal on Disney, which owns CBS.

If this doesn’t get resolved soon, there is really going to be hell to pay when the NFL season starts and people aren’t able to see NFL games on CBS.

First of all, Disney doesn't own CBS. Disney owns ABC. Viacom owns CBS.

Secondly, that isn't the way that the must carry law works. IF the local CBS channel offers it's feed to the local cable/satellite company FOR FREE then the cable/satellite company must carry the channel. The local affiliates are under NO obligation to offer their channels for free, and indeed they do not (maybe some small stations somewhere do, the vast majority do not). If the local affiliates attempt to charge the cable/satellite company for the rights to broadcast their channel then the cable/satellite companies are under NO OBLIGATION at all to pay the fee and carry the channels.

CBS wants money from DirecTV, or to be more correct, wants MORE money from DirecTV for them to allow DirecTV to air their channels. DirecTV, so far, has said no. If media reports can be believed, CBS is asking for a 50% increase in what DirecTV had been paying. IF that is true then it's easy to understand why DirecTV is balking. Also, supposedly CBS is asking for that large an increase because they want to use a deal like that with DirecTV to be able to go to everyone else when their contracts are up and basically tell them that that is now the current going rate, and that if DirecTV is paying it then they are going to have to pay it too. It is also easy to understand why DirecTV doesn't like that either.

However, while in the short term (meaning the end of July or the beginning of August) DirecTV has some leverage in the situation, because who really cares if you can't watch CBS in late July, the longer this drags on the more leverage CBS has and the less DirecTV has. The start of football season will be a huge change in the dynamic. And if it still somehow isn't resolved by then, when the new television season starts in mid-late September the pressure on DirecTV gets ratcheted up even more.

At the end of the day this is a dispute between two corporate giants attempting to decide how much of other people's money each of them gets to keep.

 

[DiehardPanther]

First of all, Disney doesn't own CBS. Disney owns ABC. Viacom owns CBS.

Secondly, that isn't the way that the must carry law works. IF the local CBS channel offers it's feed to the local cable/satellite company FOR FREE then the cable/satellite company must carry the channel. The local affiliates are under NO obligation to offer their channels for free, and indeed they do not (maybe some small stations somewhere do, the vast majority do not). If the local affiliates attempt to charge the cable/satellite company for the rights to broadcast their channel then the cable/satellite companies are under NO OBLIGATION at all to pay the fee and carry the channels.

CBS wants money from DirecTV, or to be more correct, wants MORE money from DirecTV for them to allow DirecTV to air their channels. DirecTV, so far, has said no. If media reports can be believed, CBS is asking for a 50% increase in what DirecTV had been paying. IF that is true then it's easy to understand why DirecTV is balking. Also, supposedly CBS is asking for that large an increase because they want to use a deal like that with DirecTV to be able to go to everyone else when their contracts are up and basically tell them that that is now the current going rate, and that if DirecTV is paying it then they are going to have to pay it too. It is also easy to understand why DirecTV doesn't like that either.

However, while in the short term (meaning the end of July or the beginning of August) DirecTV has some leverage in the situation, because who really cares if you can't watch CBS in late July, the longer this drags on the more leverage CBS has and the less DirecTV has. The start of football season will be a huge change in the dynamic. And if it still somehow isn't resolved by then, when the new television season starts in mid-late September the pressure on DirecTV gets ratcheted up even more.

At the end of the day this is a dispute between two corporate giants attempting to decide how much of other people's money each of them gets to keep.

Good Points! If people complain about missing the NFL games, then I wouldn’t be surprised to see DirecTV offer the NFL Package for free to people who threaten to switch. I received the NFL package the 1st year for free, and then another year as well.

 

[JD1976]

How much do you pay for Xfinity and what channels do you get?

Well it’s expensive for sure, but I also have HBO, Showtime and the tier that offers basically every non-premium work. Plus, we have internet. We are around $200 a month.

 

[DiehardPanther]

Well it’s expensive for sure, but I also have HBO, Showtime and the tier that offers basically every non-premium work. Plus, we have internet. We are around $200 a month.

I have been in the $120-$140 range for high speed internet with Armstrong and DirecTV over a 5 year period. I get a bunch of movie channels (most of them free for a period of time) and the NFL Package free for two of those 5 years. They have always been willing to work with me when an issue arises.

 

[Black Panther]

Good Points! If people complain about missing the NFL games, then I wouldn’t be surprised to see DirecTV offer the NFL Package for free to people who threaten to switch. I received the NFL package the 1st year for free, and then another year as well.

But the a FREE nfl package wont help you with your local team being blacked out.

thanks for all your help, sorry to ask so many questions

I'm confused too.You get one and let me know how it works.I've just finally upgraded to HD.lol Call me stubborn, but I'm not big on change.To me, if it works, why change?

 

[California Panther]

I'm confused too.You get one and let me know how it works.I've just finally upgraded to HD.lol Call me stubborn, but I'm not big on change.To me, if it works, why change?

But it isn't working, so change must be made, DirecTV has blacked out my NBC and CBS stations out of Fresno while they go through this "who pays who how much" charade with Nextstar. I'm thinking of getting it, so we'll see if/how it works.

 

[DiehardPanther]

But the a FREE nfl package wont help you with your local team being blacked out.

I'm confused too.You get one and let me know how it works.I've just finally upgraded to HD.lol Call me stubborn, but I'm not big on change.To me, if it works, why change?

The local channel connector will bring you the local feed, and you might also be able to get the NFL Package if you play your cards right. They are willing to work with me when I call.

 

[Black Panther]

But it isn't working, so change must be made, DirecTV has blacked out my NBC and CBS stations out of Fresno while they go through this "who pays who how much" charade with Nextstar. I'm thinking of getting it, so we'll see if/how it works.

I was meaning the switching to HD.I'm happy about it now, but was stubborn to finally switch.I pretty much was forced to do it.As far as this local channel problem it's not good and it might get worse before it gets better.And I'm with you on talking to dtv reps from around the world and it's literally around the world.

 

[mike412]

For those who just want to watch their local CBS or other network station, there is a free app called Locast which shows them. It first verifies your location, and then lists what is playing on each local station. In LA it includes the network stations and a few of the independents, but not all of them.

You can watch on your computer, phone or tablet, but if you have a Smart TV which allows you to play apps like You Tube on your TV set, it might let you also watch them on the big screen. My TV doesn’t include the app, but my Onkyo receiver does, so I can watch CBS on my HDMI2 connection.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

For those who just want to watch their local CBS or other network station, there is a free app called Locast which shows them. It first verifies your location, and then lists what is playing on each local station. In LA it includes the network stations and a few of the independents, but not all of them.

You can watch on your computer, phone or tablet, but if you have a Smart TV which allows you to play apps like You Tube on your TV set, it might let you also watch them on the big screen. My TV doesn’t include the app, but my Onkyo receiver does, so I can watch CBS on my HDMI2 connection.

It shouldn't be this complicated. I mean, I have two TV's in my house where I can watch You Tube or Netflix or other stuff, and two I can't.

 

[JD1976]

The local channel connector will bring you the local feed, and you might also be able to get the NFL Package if you play your cards right. They are willing to work with me when I call.

Last year, the NFL app started streaming games airing on your local affiliate for free so at least there’s that option.

https://www.nfl.com/ways-to-watch

 

[cease10]

For those who just want to watch their local CBS or other network station, there is a free app called Locast which shows them. It first verifies your location, and then lists what is playing on each local station. In LA it includes the network stations and a few of the independents, but not all of them.

You can watch on your computer, phone or tablet, but if you have a Smart TV which allows you to play apps like You Tube on your TV set, it might let you also watch them on the big screen. My TV doesn’t include the app, but my Onkyo receiver does, so I can watch CBS on my HDMI2 connection.

Locast is only available in a few cities though. Maybe less than 15 right now.

I'm anxiously waiting for them to come to my area.

 

[PittCity]

I am not going to put the web site on here but there are sites that will stream any NFL game for free, all you need is a firestick or any device that has a web browser.