BREAKING: TEGNA’s 64 Stations Go Dark on DIRECTV; Negotiations Stall Before Deadline
TEGNA stations reach approximately 39% of households across the nation
In a notable escalation in the broadcasting industry, DIRECTV and TEGNA have not reached a retransmission agreement by the end of their most recent three-year deal, resulting in a blackout of 64 TEGNA-owned stations across 51 markets for all DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and AT&T U-Verse customers starting on Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. ET.
- As of 8 p.m. ET on Nov. 30, DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and AT&T U-Verse subscribers lost access to channels owned by TEGNA.
- TEGNA holds ownership of 64 television stations spread over 51 markets throughout the United States.
- Earlier this year, DIRECTV experienced a significant retransmission conflict with Nexstar and has previously encountered similar issues with TEGNA.
This deadlock is reminiscent of the impasse between Dish Network and TEGNA, where the same stations were dropped from Dish’s service, affecting major markets like Denver, Washington DC, and San Diego. That stalemate lasted four months before the two sides were able to come to an agreement, returning service to all impacted DISH customers.
While undoubtedly both sides in this dispute are hoping for a swifter resolution, the ongoing tensions over retransmission fees amidst the ever-escalating decline of linear TV could make for another complicated situation. Three years ago, DIRECTV and TEGNA had a similar disagreement leading to an 18-day blackout. These recurring disputes emphasize the industry’s challenge in balancing fair compensation demands with continuous viewer service in a declining industry.
“It’s disappointing, but certainly not surprising,” DIRECTV chief content officer Rob Thun said, “that TEGNA is just the latest to perpetuate what’s become the status quo for American broadcasters by using its territorial exclusivities and blackouts to extort ever-increasing rates for programming that remains free over-the-air.”
To mitigate the impact on sports fans, particularly for this weekend’s college football conference championship weekend and the stretch run of the NFL season, DIRECTV told The Streamable that it is collaborating with local sports bars and restaurants to offer alternative viewing options in over 1,000 venues across TEGNA impacted metro areas. Venues include Buffalo Wild Wings, Dave & Busters, Boomerjacks, Miller’s Ale House, Walk-On’s, and other commercial establishments.
The Streamable also obtained an internal deck that DIRECTV had created in which a novel, a la carte solution to the dispute was laid out.
“This first-of-its-kind a la carte model would allow broadcasters to fully control the pricing for their stations based on quality and demand, facilitate a direct relationship between the stations and viewers, and most importantly return greater choice, control and value to consumers by allowing them to customize their packages and pricing,” DIRECTV’s proposal states.
One slide shows how retransmission fees have been increasing while pay TV subscribers decrease.
Another slide shows possible solutions using an a la carte model.
With the blackout goes into effect, millions of viewers have now lost access to vital local news, sports, and entertainment programming. The immediate impact — both in terms of finances and customer loyalty — is significant for both DIRECTV and TEGNA. Negotiations are continuing, but the resolution and duration of this blackout remain uncertain.
Stay updated with the latest information and in-depth coverage of this developing story at The Streamable.
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM is a live TV streaming service, which is essentially the streaming version of the DIRECTV service. All packages include local channels and at least 31 of the top 35 cable channels. New subscribers can get a free Gemini streaming device from the company, in which case the service is called “DIRECTV via Internet.”