By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow on X.
Former editor of Satellite DIRECT magazine. Reported on DIRECTV for 30 years.

TV Answer Man, is there anything new with DIRECTV and our local ABC station? Are we going to lose the channel because of a fight between rich people? — Darius, Marietta, Georgia.

Darius, DIRECTV, DIRECTV Stream and U-verse could lose 14 Cox Media-owned local network affiliates in nine markets, apparently by midnight tonight. Cox Media announced on January 26 that the current carriage agreement between the companies expires at midnight on February 2. Since the stations are still on DIRECTV – and both companies are still publishing viewer alerts at their web sites – it would appear that the February 2 midnight means tonight, not last night.

Update: DIRECTV Loses Cox Media Stations In Carriage Fight

There has been little news from the dispute since Cox Media’s initial announcement. The Cox Media stations have not changed the wording of their viewer alerts nor has DIRECTV.

“Call DIRECTV now at 1-800-531-5000 and demand they keep (Cox ABC affiliate in Atlanta) WSB-TV on your lineup. You can also drop DIRECTV and switch to one of the many providers that carry WSB-TV. WSB-TV is also available free over the air with a digital antenna,” the Cox Media stations state.

See more news and TV tech features at TVAnswerMan.com.

“DIRECTV is working with Cox Media Group, the owner of 12 local broadcast stations spanning nine metro areas, to reach a new agreement before our expiration on February 2 that will align the value and quality customers receive with the price they pay. Our request to Cox Media Group is simple, don’t force your viewers who are our customers to pay an unwarranted rate increase for ‘free’ news, sports and entertainment that is widely available on local station websites, through an over-the-air digital antenna and direct-to-consumer streaming platforms,” counters DIRECTV at its TVPromise.com page.

The Cox Media stations represent 10 network affiliates, including three CBS stations. You might think that would increase pressure on DIRECTV to settle with Cox Media considering the Super Bowl is in nine days. But CBS, which is broadcasting the big game, this year is simulcasting it on Nickelodeon which is available in most DIRECTV programming packages. So, if the three CBS affiliates are blacked out on DIRECTV, subscribers in those markets could still watch the game on Nick.

Here are the Cox Media stations that could be affected by a blackout:

(ABC: WSB) – Atlanta, GA
(FOX: WFXT) – Boston, MA
(ABC: WSOC) – Charlotte, NC
(CBS: WHIO) – Dayton, OH
(FOX: KLSR) – Eugene, OR

(FOX: WFOX, CBS, WJAZ) – Jacksonville, FL
(ABC: WFTV) – Orlando, FL
(NBC: WPXI) – Pittsburgh, PA
(CBS: KIRO) – Seattle, WA

Update: CMG says it doesn’t own the Jacksonville CBS affiliate although it’s listed on its web site: https://www.cmg.com/brands/

The broadcasting group apparently just manages the station so it’s not part of the blackout. 

The TV Answer Man will monitor this situation and report back here if anything significant changes today. Until then, happy viewing and stay safe!

The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.