By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – @tvanswerman
TV Answer Man, I ordered the Sports Pack on DIRECTV specifically to get the NFL RedZone and I haven’t been able to watch it for two straight weeks. The channel is not on the app. Do you know what the problem is? This is so frustrating! — David, town withheld.
David, for two straight Sundays, numerous DIRECTV subscribers have posted complaints on social media that they could not access the NFL RedZone channel although they had paid for it through the $14.99 a month Sports Pack add-on package. The problem has not affected all DIRECTV subscribers who have the RedZone, or perhaps even a majority, but social media forums such as X were overflowing with complaints yesterday. Here’s a sampling of the comments on X (formerly Twitter) from Sunday:
“RedZone channel once again not working. I’m out.”– ‘CD.’
“My redzone ain’t working either. Directv told me to pound sand last weekend before the games started,” — ‘Skinny.’
“I can’t stream the red zones in the direct tv app. I got transfer to 4 different people no one has help.” — ‘Carlos Cardova.’
“Why can I not watch the Red Zone from the nfl app on my phone. Or the the DIRECTV APP?” — ‘Rohin Blanchette.’
“WHY THE F— AM I NOT ABLE TO STREAM REDZONE CHANNEL WHEN I PAY FOR IT???” — ‘Young Professional.’
“Has anyone dropped @DIRECTV? I just (pay) my monthly bill. It ain’t funny. I’m paying way to much. I only checked because I didn’t have redzone this week. I’ve been getting fleeced. :(” — ‘NFL Nascar Analyst.’
“Not able to get NFL RedZone on my Directv app. It was there last week (211) but not there now. What happened?” — ‘Chris Brinka.’
Most subscribers say the NFL RedZone channel is not available on the DIRECTV Stream app or the app for DIRECTV satellite subscribers. But some say they can’t find it in their satellite set-top lineups, either. The problem is particularly embarrassing because DIRECTV added the RedZone earlier this year to help appease football fans who might consider defecting after the company lost the NFL Sunday Ticket contract to Google. But on the first two Sundays of the 2023 season, the RedZone has become a minus for many, not a plus.
DIRECTV’s customer service team on X yesterday, and this morning, said it was investigating the issue. “At this moment, there is an Outage affecting RedZone on our app. Our team is working hard to restore the service, so you can enjoy your favorite programming. DIRECTV appreciates your understanding,” @DIRECTVHelp told one angry customer.
The TV Answer Man asked DIRECTV’s communications department last week for an explanation, but the company would only say affected subscribers should contact customer service. There was no reason given for the problem.
Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
— Phillip Swann
@tvanswerman
Just Switch to YouTube TV!!!! YouTube TV HAS This Deal, The First 3 Weeks FREE or a 10 Day FREE Trial and after you Try YouTube TV the Next 3 Months are ONLY $54.99 A Month. You WANT NFL Redzone just get the Sports Plus Add-On for $10.99 A Month. Now that is a Great Deal, So why not Give YouTube TV a Tryout and I think You will LOVE YouTube TV!!!!!!!! YouTube TV is the BEST Provider Going Right Now!!!!!!
You left out the calming minutes while you watch the little car race around the circular track while your tv tries to assemble a picture. I guess youtube throws in a free broadband connection good enough for whatever YOU are watching. Do you get a commission for your ad? I don’t have DTV streaming but their sat service is pretty much perfect. Too bad the NFL doesn’t care!
I have tried Every Provider out there and YouTube TV is the BEST Provider that I have Found. YouTube TV is Easy to use and has the BEST Picture Quality of Any Other Provider Out There. No YouTube TV DOESN’T Pay me Anything, This is just My Opinion and My Families Opinion!!!!!!!!
I had the Sunday Ticket for 10 years or more via Direct TV with no problems. It was easy to switch from games to regular programing.Against my better judgement, I purchased the Sunday Ticket from YouTube and two weeks in I am already regretting that decision.
Now, I have to use two remotes to switch between Direct TV and YouTube and have to play the game of getting back on Direct TV from streaming which takes around a minute, which doesn’t sound like much but it is to me. You might guess that I don’t like streaming (I do not) and yesterday I decided to forget about watching the Sunday Ticket it simply is not worth the trouble.
The NFL needs to give The ticket back to Direct TV or at least share it with Direct TV for people like me that simply refuse to stream.
I think the NFL should just have a set Price for the NFL Sunday Ticket and Offer the NFL Sunday Ticket to Every Provider out there. This would Allow People to Get the NFL Sunday Ticket with whatever Provider they have.