WGN & Chicago Tribune & Direct TV

[john h]

You may or may not know that Direct TV and the Tribune/WGN have been doing battle on programing. I think as of this past weekend Direct stopped carrying all WGN channels. I got this response from Direct TV:

"Response
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tribune informed us that we had to take their local stations and WGN America down at Midnight PST Saturday, 3/31/12. It’s the last thing we at DIRECTV wanted to do but we had no choice. As of Thursday, March 29th, we had a handshake deal for their channels and they reneged on their offer. Their actions are the true definition of “bad faith”, and we can’t help but feel this was their intent all along given the amount of money they have spent on advertising and continue to do so.

There is a simple solution that would show that Tribune cares about its viewers and doesn’t just see them as something to help them pressure DIRECTV in their negotiations: Tribune can leave their stations on the air for DIRECTV customers while they negotiate with us. We can only believe Tribune’s ability to negotiate a reasonable agreement with DIRECTV is being undermined by the complexities and competing interests of their lengthy bankruptcy process. Despite DIRECTV’s best efforts to compensate Tribune fairly for both WGN America and their local stations, it seems they are focused on unduly benefiting their creditors rather than their viewers. Why else would they show such bad faith actions by reneging on their offer and denying their viewers their stations when they have the
ability to keep them on the air?

For more information about programming disputes, please go to directvpromise.com."


Sincerely,

DIRECTV Customer Care

 

[BigRedRage]

everything else?

 

[Dayman]

DirecTV needs to stop asking for their customers' sympathy on these issues. They almost lost FX and a bunch of other Fox channels last fall. My local CW affiliate went off the air this weekend. Now I've lost WGN, which would be a much bigger deal to me if the Bulls' season wasn't almost done. DirecTV has responded to each of these situations by releasing a statement that puts all the blame on the other side. It's kind of nauseating. I don't care about the inner workings of their disputes. All I want are the channels I pay for on a monthly basis. And if the deleted channels don't come back, I better see an adjustment on my bill.

 

[stewdog1]

DirecTV needs to stop asking for their customers' sympathy on these issues. They almost lost FX and a bunch of other Fox channels last fall. My local CW affiliate went off the air this weekend. Now I've lost WGN, which would be a much bigger deal to me if the Bulls' season wasn't almost done. DirecTV has responded to each of these situations by releasing a statement that puts all the blame on the other side. It's kind of nauseating. I don't care about the inner workings of their disputes. All I want are the channels I pay for on a monthly basis. And if the deleted channels don't come back, I better see an adjustment on my bill.

You do realize that DTV is trying to keep YOUR costs down?

 

[Totally_Red]

You do realize that DTV is trying to keep YOUR costs down?

They are doing a lousy job of it. My bill goes up 3-4 dollars every year.

 

[Dayman]

You do realize that DTV is trying to keep YOUR costs down?

Well, they're not doing a very good job of it, considering my rates already went up by 4% a couple of months ago. Not to mention the new surcharges they keep adding. If I'm going to get gouged by my TV provider, I'd rather not hear them ask for my sympathy in the process by claiming they're so much more compassionate to their customers than the networks. It's sickening. The fact is both sides are profiting greatly from our viewership.

 

[BigRedRage]

dtv prices went up so much that I no longer purchase cable and watch hulu/netflix and live TV. Eat it DTV

 

[stewdog1]

They are doing a lousy job of it. My bill goes up 3-4 dollars every year.

Well, they're not doing a very good job of it, considering my rates already went up by 4% a couple of months ago. Not to mention the new surcharges they keep adding. If I'm going to get gouged by my TV provider, I'd rather not hear them ask for my sympathy in the process by claiming they're so much more compassionate to their customers than the networks. It's sickening. The fact is both sides are profiting greatly from our viewership.

True. And bugs me too. However, the carrier agreements go up, especially when they have to renegotiate it. Part of the cost also comes from technology implementations and the like. As much as you hate paying it, DTV has some of the best offerings of any provider. They just launched the DTV Everywhere which allows you to watch DTV on your PC and iPad.

Yes, rising costs suck, but I have been very happy with their service for a long time, especially when I get the NFL ST free.

 

[carrrnuttt]

You do realize that DTV is trying to keep YOUR costs down?

Then they're doing something wrong. I have Dish and they don't have issues like this, and yet are cheaper than DTV.

 

[TJ]

If it weren't for the NFL Ticket, I'd be done with DirecTV.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Well, they're not doing a very good job of it, considering my rates already went up by 4% a couple of months ago. Not to mention the new surcharges they keep adding. If I'm going to get gouged by my TV provider, I'd rather not hear them ask for my sympathy in the process by claiming they're so much more compassionate to their customers than the networks. It's sickening. The fact is both sides are profiting greatly from our viewership.

Also, to your earlier point, they never lower your bill when they cut channels.

 

[Totally_Red]

If it weren't for the NFL Ticket, I'd be done with DirecTV.

Ditto! I'm thinking of dropping them anyway and just going with Dish and NFL Redzone.

 

[cardpa]

I have a two year agreement with them that is set to expire in September. Not sure I am going to re-up with them or switch to Dish. The idea that Red has seems pretty good to me.

 

[BigRedRage]

I have a two year agreement with them that is set to expire in September. Not sure I am going to re-up with them or switch to Dish. The idea that Red has seems pretty good to me.

its an up front investment but pays off quickly. Example:

Already have an xbox in living room. Can do hulu, netflix and mroe on there. 2 bedrooms needed tv too so bought two $80 roku players.

From there, $14 a month pays for netflix AND hulu and then you have a good amount of local channels to watch. If cards game is on cable, I go watch at a friends house or the bar. Dont think we are in danger of landing any primetime games this fall so all is well.

So in 2012 with DTV I would have paid $1200 where now I am paying $168 + cost of rokus

 

[TJ]

its an up front investment but pays off quickly. Example:

Already have an xbox in living room. Can do hulu, netflix and mroe on there. 2 bedrooms needed tv too so bought two $80 roku players.

From there, $14 a month pays for netflix AND hulu and then you have a good amount of local channels to watch. If cards game is on cable, I go watch at a friends house or the bar. Dont think we are in danger of landing any primetime games this fall so all is well.

So in 2012 with DTV I would have paid $1200 where now I am paying $168 + cost of rokus

With new Thursday night football agreement, all teams in the league are guaranteed at least one primetime game in 2012.
C
Also IIRC, in Arizona, when there is a Cards prime time game, it's also broadcasted on KTVK Channel 3.

 

[BigRedRage]

With new Thursday night football agreement, all teams in the league are guaranteed at least one primetime game in 2012.
C
Also IIRC, in Arizona, when there is a Cards prime time game, it's also broadcasted on KTVK Channel 3.

excellent.

thursday night football is stupid.

Ill go to the bar for that one.

 

[Pariah]

IMO, Dish is the superior -- and far cheaper -- product.

"Hoppah!"

 

[JeffGollin]

IMO, Dish is the superior -- and far cheaper -- product.

"Hoppah!"

Beg to differ. If you live outside of AZ and want to watch every Cardinal game on TV, you're not going to get it from the Dish. The only way you can get it on television is from DirecTV.

Not to say that everything is 100% hunky-dory I don't like the cost-creep or getting blacked out of preseason games or highlight shows on FSAZ and FSMW (both of which I pay for in my local sports package)when I live in NJ and it's no skin off their backs to deliver the signal.

But other than that (& it's not clear who's responsible) I've had nothing but a good relationship with DirecTV - in terms of channel -availability, customer service or technical support.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

its an up front investment but pays off quickly. Example:

Already have an xbox in living room. Can do hulu, netflix and mroe on there. 2 bedrooms needed tv too so bought two $80 roku players.

From there, $14 a month pays for netflix AND hulu and then you have a good amount of local channels to watch. If cards game is on cable, I go watch at a friends house or the bar. Dont think we are in danger of landing any primetime games this fall so all is well.

So in 2012 with DTV I would have paid $1200 where now I am paying $168 + cost of rokus

Did the same thing in my house...Went from paying about $230/month for Uverse, down to $70 for Cox's Highest Internet package and Roku's for the TV's...saving over $150/month.

 

[john h]

True. And bugs me too. However, the carrier agreements go up, especially when they have to renegotiate it. Part of the cost also comes from technology implementations and the like. As much as you hate paying it, DTV has some of the best offerings of any provider. They just launched the DTV Everywhere which allows you to watch DTV on your PC and iPad.

Yes, rising costs suck, but I have been very happy with their service for a long time, especially when I get the NFL ST free.

It is a personal thing with each of us but for me Direct TV provides me with more entertainment for the $$ than many other things in my life. An increase of $3 per month is hardly more than a beer at your local bar. I can sure live with that. Perhaps many cannot and in the end you can cancel Direct if it is not worth what you pay for it. That is the great thing about Democracy. No one forces us to buy something we do not want (except insurance under Obamcare). Before Direct came along I never or rarely got to see a Cards game. Now I can see them all as I can the Cubs. That is worth a lot to me but perhaps a lot less to others. I recall very clearly before Direct and the NFL staying up to catch just a one minute snippet of a Cards game after the Sunday game of the day.

 

[john h]

Then they're doing something wrong. I have Dish and they don't have issues like this, and yet are cheaper than DTV.

But they do not offer all the NFL Games or all the MLB games or even the number of major channels. I have had Direct for about 18 years and was one of the first to sign up when it came to my city. One of my best entertainment sources and absolutely the best source for watching sports. If I am traveling i can whip out my iPad and watch the games wherever I happen to be.

 

[40yearfan]

It is a personal thing with each of us but for me Direct TV provides me with more entertainment for the $$ than many other things in my life. An increase of $3 per month is hardly more than a beer at your local bar. I can sure live with that. Perhaps many cannot and in the end you can cancel Direct if it is not worth what you pay for it. That is the great thing about Democracy. No one forces us to buy something we do not want (except insurance under Obamcare). Before Direct came along I never or rarely got to see a Cards game. Now I can see them all as I can the Cubs. That is worth a lot to me but perhaps a lot less to others. I recall very clearly before Direct and the NFL staying up to catch just a one minute snippet of a Cards game after the Sunday game of the day.

Agree. I had Primestar before it was bought out by DTV and have had DTV every since. When I moved to Phoenix a couple of years ago, I decided to go with Cox Cable as it was already in the house. After 2 months, I went back to DTV. The difference in picture quality and number of channels was amazing. My wife and I don't watch very many movies, but we do watch food and travel channels. DTV is just perfect for us.

 

[LarryStalling]

Had Directv in Iowa and loved it. We moved and had it installed yesterday. Took the installer 6 hours to get it running and then we had to spend 2 hours with customer service on the phone. They told us that they had to confer and would call us back in 20 minutes. That was last night and 18 hours later and no response. So going to send them to the can and go with Dish I guess.

 

[FrustratedFan04]

The day after DirecTv announced they had signed an agreement with the NFL to broadcast all the games I went and purchased a DirecTv satillite system and have had DTV since then. As I approach my 20th year anniversary with DTV I can say I have never had a service problem, an outage unrelated to the weather, a billing issue or problems with customer service. I am on my 5th physical dish. Each was installed promptly and without a hitch. I get what I pay for and have not missed a single Cardinals game in all that time.

 

[Totally_Red]

The day after DirecTv announced they had signed an agreement with the NFL to broadcast all the games I went and purchased a DirecTv satillite system and have had DTV since then. As I approach my 20th year anniversary with DTV I can say I have never had a service problem, an outage unrelated to the weather, a billing issue or problems with customer service. I am on my 5th physical dish. Each was installed promptly and without a hitch. I get what I pay for and have not missed a single Cardinals game in all that time.

I had Dish before transferring to DTV for the Sunday Ticket. DTV installers messed up my install and I had to climb up on the roof to tighten the screws holding the dish in place. I had to do it myself because they were going to charge me $75 for a service call to fix their problem.

Other issues have been minimal since then, limited to having to reboot the translator a few times. I think they've finally given up their frequent phone calls to upsell me some products I don't want. I hope so at least.

If DTV didn't have Sunday Ticket, I'd be a Dish customer for lower prices, better billing choices and more package options. I suspect I'm not the only person who feels that way.