Today, DIRECTV gave an update on the Nexstar blackouts that have seen 200 local TV stations in 116 metro areas go dark on DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and U-verse. According to DIRECT, “Nexstar continues to hold your local news and sports hostage since our expiration on July 2 to secure double the rates for the same programming that’s free over-the-air today.”
Now DIRECTV is saying they are asking Nexstar to bring the channels back to DIRECTV customers through February 2024 as talks continue. Nexstar reportedly is only offering an extension through October 31, 2023. In response, DIRECTV is now telling customers to buy an antenna or get a streaming service like Peacock and Paramount+ to watch sports.
With the start of fall, sports, including some of the biggest sports on TV like College Football and the NFL, are putting pressure on DIRECT and Nexstar to reach a deal. DIRECTV is hoping to get an extension to go past the end of the football season, but Nexstar seems to be hoping you use fall football to put pressure on DIRECTV.
“DIRECTV remains committed to negotiating a mutually beneficial agreement with Nexstar, even as they signal to their shareholders that a deal is on the horizon while dragging their feet on negotiations and further harming the broadcaster, its investors, local stations, and viewers across the country.” A DIRECTV spokesperson said in a statement to Cord Cutters News.
Update: A Nexstar spokesperson sent Cord Cutters News this statement. “Once again, DIRECTV is misleading its subscribers, as they have done consistently throughout this impasse. In July, Nexstar offered an extension of four months to DIRECTV while we continued to negotiate, which DIRECTV flatly rejected. In fact, for weeks following the expiration of our contract in early July, DIRECTV didn’t bother to negotiate or even talk with us. DIRECTV is managed by a hedge fund, not a local broadcaster. They are interested is maximizing their profits, not serving their subscribers. We are merely asking for fair rates, commensurate with what other MVPDs pay us for our highly valuable local news, live sports, and entertainment programming.”
To help keep customers happy, DIRECTV has announced that customers affected by the blackout will receive a one-time $10 credit.
If you have not claimed your credit, you should do it soon, as once the channels come back, you will no longer be able to claim your credit.
The catch is DIRECTV, U-Verse TV, and DIRECTV STREAM customers have to apply for the one-time credit as it will not be automatically included. If you are a DIRECTV STREAM customer, you can find how to request your $10 refund HERE. DIRECTV and U-Verse TV customers can get their refund by going HERE.
Just scroll down to where you can enter your zip code and select which service you subscribe to. After you find out if you qualify (you must have lost a local), you can follow the steps there to claim your $10 one-time credit.
Here are the details about the refund as posted on the DIRECTV STREAM website: “Note: To receive your refund online, the email address you provide must be linked to an active DIRECTV STREAM account. You must also have a valid credit card or debit card as your payment method. Online refunds are not available for accounts paid with PayPal.”