topic Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel in Among Friends

Direct TV and the loss of another channel

Group 5 minus 1 — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 12:38:36 GMT

We watch so little satellite tv the we were not aware that one of our channels were missing.

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

cheriere — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 12:57:06 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
We watch so little satellite tv the we were not aware that one of our channels were missing.

@Group 5 minus 1 If the channel is still available, but you're just unable to watch it call directv. This fall, I had to call because we suddenly stopped getting some of our movie channels we're subscribed to. The lady couldn't explain what had happened but saw that they had been mistakenly taken off our package...even though they were still being paid for...go figure 😳

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

Ronettes — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 13:20:08 GMT

We have comcast / xfinity and channels are continually removed, with some obsolete ones added.

I try not to call them, because it takes quite a long time to get through to an actual person, if one is lucky, and then difficult to understand them.

Hundreds of stations, and sometimes nothing interesting to watch!

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

Eileen in Virginia — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 13:34:40 GMT

We have Direct TV and are currently unable to watch one of our local news channels because they can't reach an agreement with Direct TV on the fee Direct TV wants to charge them. When we go to that channel, we get a screenshot that they're in negotiations on the fee. This happens periodically and sometimes the parties reach an agreement, sometimes they don't. You can usually find the channel if you search for it, but it's a PITA. DH bought an indoor antenna (like a modern version of rabbit ears) and that seems to work pretty well. Good luck!

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

Group 5 minus 1 — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 13:41:15 GMT

@Eileen in Virginia We do have an antenna on top of the dome. But,it seems that we are always losing another channel. This time I didn't know it was lost 'cuz we watch so little sat. tv.

I think the powers that be regarding these kind of things are going to shoot themseves in the foot.

I think after the big holiday sports stuff things will settle,esp. here in MI where U of M is in the Rose Bowl.

Oh wait! i forgot about the Super Bowl.

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

RespectLife — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 13:44:52 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1

@Eileen in Virginia is correct. It is another contract dispute this time with NBC.

Previously in the Fall it was with CBS.

We call and get credit for the lost channel....albeit tiny!!

Hopefully, it will be back soon....the last took many weeks to resolve.

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

violet runner — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 13:47:11 GMT

Our solution was to cut ties with Direct TV. Plus the monthly bill was increasing. We swtitched to UTube TV and while it isn't perfect.. we like it and no channels loss. Agree with others, I think Direct TV is shooting itself in the foot..

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

cheriere — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:04:20 GMT

@Ronettes EVERYTHING you said about calling them is so true...I inevitably always end up having to ask to speak to someone else. It's embarrassing, but I just have to say, "I'm sorry, but I can't understand a word you're saying."

@Eileen in Virginia The same thing happened with our directv for three months this summer! "Unable to reach an agreement" that's the worst! Luckily, we had a different local news channel still available to watch, but a lot of the shows I watched everyday was on the blackout channel.

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

millieshops — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 13:59:24 GMT

@Ronettes Had a Comcast tech in the house Sunday morning. He found an old channel line-up paper hidden in dust where my old tube TV interfered with dusting! He said it was so out-dated I should discard it and just use the onscreen guide because the company no longer prints guides. I think that means they expect to continue making changes.

I haven't moved to streaming at all which means there's very little TV I care to watch often. I've been using the public library more and more - both for books in print and downloads.

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

Teddixat — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:05:45 GMT

@millieshops You post made me smile. I did t know anyone still had the old tube TVs anymore. Apparently television isn't that important to you and you prefer reading. I think that's wonderful. I would really miss streaming TV, other than very few programs I watch very little network TV but I do stream a lot

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

cheriere — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:09:35 GMT

I live out in the country. We have WiFi at my house but virtually no cell phone reception so I still have a landline telephone. Anyways, I'm not sure why, but I'm unable to stream successfully on my television through directv. I can choose a movie and it will look as if it's gonna work, but there's constant buffering. So much so, the movie is unwatchable. I'm not sure if I'd need to hardwire my WiFi into my television or what to get it to work right.

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

SilleeMee — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:37:54 GMT

My Direct satellite bill is getting up there and so much so that lately I'm considering going to streaming. I'm looking at Directv Stream as a possibility but I wonder if their price is worth it. I still want a program guide and dvr capability/storage. Right now I have Genie and it's great. I just don't know how much longer i will be able to afford their price hikes...!

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

Ronettes — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:48:23 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
My Direct satellite bill is getting up there and so much so that lately I'm considering going to streaming. I'm looking at Directv Stream as a possibility but I wonder if their price is worth it. I still want a program guide and dvr capability/storage. Right now I have Genie and it's great. I just don't know how much longer i will be able to afford their price hikes...!

Same here, Comcast / Xfinity continually raises their prices. We have 2 tv's and also internet service, and it's majorly expensive. And with no hbo or premium movie channels.

And then they remove channels / change channel lineup and packages. For instance, they removed Turner Classic Movies at one point from our package, demanding extra if you wanted it back.

The greed is outrageous.

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

cheriere — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:50:40 GMT

@SilleeMee I have to call directv about every 6 months or so to get a price adjustment. We've been a customer for 25 years and always kept the same package that includes movies. I normally have to speak to a manager, but I tell them that offering NEW CUSTOMERS these great deals without taking care of their old, loyal customers isn't right and so on. They can usually find a way to give you some channels free for a few months or arrange your package with the channels you want for a bit of a lower price. But I completely agree...the prices are OUTRAGEOUS! Satellite service is the only option where I live so it's either them or Dish, ugh!!!

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

SilleeMee — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:57:16 GMT

@cheriere wrote:
@SilleeMee I have to call directv about every 6 months or so to get a price adjustment. We've been a customer for 25 years and always kept the same package that includes movies. I normally have to speak to a manager, but I tell them that offering NEW CUSTOMERS these great deals without taking care of their old, loyal customers isn't right and so on. They can usually find a way to give you some channels free for a few months or arrange your package with the channels you want for a bit of a lower price. But I completely agree...the prices are OUTRAGEOUS! Satellite service is the only option where I live so it's either them or Dish, ugh!!!

@cheriere

I do that very same thing with calling their CS to get a lower price. I've been a loyal customer for over 25 years!

I usually get a lower price but then they still raise the price in the middle of the term I agreed on. Disgusting!

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

cheriere — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:00:33 GMT

@SilleeMee That happens to me too! Years ago I'd never have dreamed I'd pay so much for television...it's sickening! And forget about it if you get them to Bundle your phone & internet with it!

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

Icegoddess — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:19:13 GMT

@Eileen in Virginia wrote:
We have Direct TV and are currently unable to watch one of our local news channels because they can't reach an agreement with Direct TV on the fee Direct TV wants to charge them. When we go to that channel, we get a screenshot that they're in negotiations on the fee. This happens periodically and sometimes the parties reach an agreement, sometimes they don't. You can usually find the channel if you search for it, but it's a PITA. DH bought an indoor antenna (like a modern version of rabbit ears) and that seems to work pretty well. Good luck!

@Eileen in Virginia it's actually the other way around. It's the cotent providers who are asking for more money, not DirecTV. The station wants you to think it's DirecTV raising the prices on them so you'll call and complain and put pressure on them to cave. The stations, and the entities that own them, own the content. Normally, these stations are part of large entities. So, there may be a local President who, but if they are providing content from a national station like ABC, NBC, or CBS, that is the entity that DirecTV is dealing with, not your local station.

When DirecTV was going through negotiations this summer and one of our local stations went away, the screen went black and there was a message from DirecTV naming the entity they were dealing with. It also instructed that most could receive their local channel over the air using an antenna.

DirecTV buys access to the content. They charge the customer to see that content, not the station.

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

millieshops — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:30:57 GMT

@Teddixat I'm finally almost rid of my last big old tube TV! The Comcast tech volunteered to hoist it out of the space into which it had been placed years ago, but it was too heavy and awkward for him carry it out of the house.

It's sitting out of my way until a team comes to finish it off, but you're right that I prefer reading to watching most what's been available on network TV. I asked the father of a child who works for a streaming service his opinion of streaming - "It's a money-making scheme" was his answer. Not a scam unless the details of the plan differ from what you signed for, and that's not something I've seen so far. I may resort to some streaming if having the writers and actors back to work doesn't improve network TV for me.

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

SilleeMee — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:43:16 GMT

Directv Stream offers a 5-Day Free Trial. So I go there to sign up for it, all excited and then my internet goes down just at that very moment.

Re: Direct TV and the loss of another channel

Ronettes — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:50:30 GMT

@Icegoddess wrote:
@Eileen in Virginia it's actually the other way around. It's the cotent providers who are asking for more money, not DirecTV. The station wants you to think it's DirecTV raising the prices on them so you'll call and complain and put pressure on them to cave. The stations, and the entities that own them, own the content. Normally, these stations are part of large entities. So, there may be a local President who, but if they are providing content from a national station like ABC, NBC, or CBS, that is the entity that DirecTV is dealing with, not your local station.

When DirecTV was going through negotiations this summer and one of our local stations went away, the screen went black and there was a message from DirecTV naming the entity they were dealing with. It also instructed that most could receive their local channel over the air using an antenna.

DirecTV buys access to the content. They charge the customer to see that content, not the station.

Either way, it's greed, and it's getting out of control.

As I mentioned earlier, sometime ago Turner Classic Movies was suddenly 'removed' from our package -

And there was a fee if you wanted to subscribe to TCM.

Seems like it's one channel or another, and it's never enough.