Q. I am angry that we lost our channels but I am really angry that we are paying the same money every month. Shouldn’t we get a refund for not having our channels on DIRECTV? Or can we break our contracts? — Cynthia, Alexandria, Virginia.
Cynthia, as you note, DIRECTV on Tuesday night lost 60 Tegna-owned local channels due to a carriage dispute, and it’s unclear when they will return. The two sides are continuing to engage in a war of words over who’s to blame.
To your question regarding your two-year contract with DIRECTV, the loss of your local channels does not permit you to break it without paying the usual termination fee, which is $20 a month for every month left. The agreement clearly states that your programming and prices could change at any time during the two years. So the lost of any single channel, or a group of channels, is permitted within the language of the contract.
See Home Theater Tonight! The new site for movie lovers!
However, I do have some good news for you. On AT&T’s TV Promise page (AT&T owns DIRECTV), the company says you might be eligible for a “temporary pricing adjustment” due to the carriage dispute. There’s a link there so you can sign into your DIRECTV account and see if you are eligible, and if so, discover the temporary reduction in your bill.
I asked AT&T yesterday for more details, such as the exact amount that it’s offering customers affected by the blackout, but the company has not responded. However, based on past experience, my guess is that it’s $10-$20 for every month the dispute lasts. (I have seen some customers online say they received a $20 credit. when they called DIRECTV to complain.)
That may not sound like much, but it’s better than nothing, which AT&T actually would be entitled to offer under that two-year contract.
By the way, U-verse subscribers can also apply for a “temporary price adjustment,” but AT&T TV and AT&T TV Now customers can not. (The blackout is impacting all AT&T-owned pay TV services.)
Cynthia, hope that helps. Happy viewing, and stay safe!
Click Amazon: See Today’s Holiday Sales!
Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvpredictions.com. Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
— Phillip Swann
I hear some cable subscribers are getting refunds due to the lack of sports programming during Covid. Have you heard this and if so who is getting the refunds?
I got a $15 rebate every month to goes on I’m like nine months into a two-year contract
The whole thing is a RIP off it cost to much to watch adds
As has been mentioned, The cable/satellite companies are not the ones that have caused this problem. Tegna and other station owners is where the blame lies. This is a continuing problem with the station owners raising their prices at the end of their contract with the cable/satellite companies. Ever wonder why the cable/satellite companies have to pay to transmit their programming when it is free to those who have tv antennas? It would seem to me that the station owners should be grateful that cable/satellite providers for providing this service. If I were an advertiser I would be asking the station owners for a price reduction as the size of the audience is greatly diminished. Of course there is always the antenna option. Not hard to install and cost is minimal.
It’s so unfair with the pandemic going on that these channels have been taken off. A lot of elderly and disable people are use to watching their shows and now they can’t because of the greed.
So what about the NFL Sunday ticket? Since some games are usually blacked out. For example a game on local TV 9 shows a game and they black it out on say channel 711. Will I be able to see the game on the game on 711 since the local channel 9 is no longer showing programs? This sucks I’ll be asking for a refund on my NFL Sunday ticket package if I miss some games
I called directv today. Took hours to reach an agent I could barely hear, and vice-versa. You’ d think a telephone company could do better. Their agent said she knew nothing of the dispute with Tegna and couldn’t help at all!! Not sure I believed her. I hate this Att company Terrible to deal with. Anyone suggest a better option? Dr Dave M Davis
I called Direct TV and got the $20 refund immediately
Att tv and att tv now customers can absolutely get the same 1 month discount of 20 off due to tenga dispute. Please keep your mouth shut when you do not know what you are talking about tv answer man.
Shelly, AT&T’s web site says you can’t. Got a problem? Take it up with them.
From the web site today:
“Affected DIRECTV and U-verse customers can sign in to get a one-time adjustment to your bill. It’s our thanks to you for sticking with us through this fight.”
Previously on the AT&T site, it actually said AT&T TV and AT&T TV Now subscribers were not eligible.
Not only did DirecTV (which is owned by at&t) black out channels they At&t increased the price of their internet. Time to switch to another carrier or cut the cord and go with a good antenna. If more people will cancel immediately At&t/DirecTV and Tegna will come to an agreement quickly. According to most attorneys At&t breached the contract you were promised so you won’t have to pay early termination fee. I don’t think At&t would like class action law suits.
Great info Thanks
I am ready to cancel. I pay way too much monthly for this to happen!!
This is stupid, why are we paying the price for them not getting along?? We are missing Sunday night football, the voice , Christmas programs. . .horrible time to add to peoples frustrations!! Checking out options now.
Why should WE have to call them? $20 is measly and niggardly on their part. What a loser company! They should be notifying us!
Tegna & AT&T do not care about their customers and their frustration. It is all about money. This pandemic has brought the good side out of many people and companies. We can count these 2 companies out.
AT&T made me pay for direct tv instead of offering me any of there services! I can’t even get a landline where I live. The internet here is not terrible but it’s not the best it lags so bad! Now I can’t even watch the local news it’s really pathetic when you have to pay for what you don’t get! Do your job make people happy and give them what they pay for! It’s not hard Dont make excuses wear a mask and give people internet!
I am ready to cancel. I pay almost $100.a month for only TV. CBS channel 8 is the main channel I watch. I think its time to switch.
I am not under a contract now I just pay month to month .My question. Does Dish still have WTLV channels 12 and 25 and out her lost channels . I can switch if dish has them.
The amount we pay every month for directv is ridiculous to begin with. Watch maybe 10-12 channels. Someone is definitely making money on us. If we don’t pay our Bill they will turn off our tv . But it’s ok to take away our channels
There is no reason why we can’t have the channels we wanted . I hate hate not being able to watch what I want and paying for something I don’t have
I like WCNC channel disappointed TEGNA it is wrong when people have shoes they like to watch.I love Jeopardy I did want to see the last shoes that was aired with Alex Trebex since his passing that was his last taping thank you.