Nexstar, DIRECTV Make New Retransmission Deal Official, How You Can Save
For most of the summer, DIRECTV subscribers in more than 100 markets across the country had to deal with blackouts that kept over 200 local affiliates off of the air as the satellite and streaming company was locked in a contentious retransmission dispute with Nexstar, the largest station-owning group on the country. Last month, the two sides agreed to end the two-and-a-half-month standoff by agreeing to a temporary deal before announcing that the two sides had agreed on terms for a new multi-year contract. On Monday, the deal between the two sides became official, meaning that DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and AT&T U-verse customers won’t have to worry about those channels disappearing at least until the next time the two sides have to begin negotiating a new deal.
While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, DIRECTV customers are already feeling the impacts. While many are likely pleased that 176 of the previously blacked-out channels returned in mid-September, last week, the TV provider announced that it would be raising prices in November, no doubt in direct response to increased fees that must be paid to broadcast Nexstar affiliates.
The prices on DIRECTV STREAM’s four primary packages will increase anywhere from $5 to $10 beginning on Nov. 5. Additionally, if you subscribe to either Showtime or AMC+ through DIRECTV STREAM, you will also see your bills increase by another dollar on that date as well.
| Package | Current Price | Nov. 5 Price |
|---|---|---|
| Entertainment | $74.99 | $79.99 |
| Choice | $99.99 | $108.99 |
| Ultimate | $109.99 | $119.99 |
| Premier | $154.99 | $164.99 |
“DIRECTV and Nexstar greatly appreciate the patience of their subscribers and viewers during this negotiation,” Nexstar said in a statement released on Monday.
Currently, DIRECTV STREAM is providing opportunities for customers to save money as the service is giving new customers the opportunity to save $10 per month for the first three months of service, following a five-day free trial. With the rising costs and dwindling customers for traditional pay-TV providers, reports indicate that DIRECTV’s parent company, AT&T, is looking to sell part or all of the satellite and streaming service. Though there are no potential buyers immediately obvious, this type of move would make sense as AT&T has been slowly distancing itself from the world of television over the years, selling off previously acquired assets as the industry has gone through tremendous shifts.
These disruptions have not only impacted DIRECTV, but they have hit the company’s chief rival DISH as well. In late September, DISH announced that it was raising its prices by $5 beginning on Thursday, Oct. 12. If the cost of live TV streaming services has gotten to be too expensive for you, we have some recommendations on how you can still get all of the news, sports, and entertainment that you need if you are leaving DIRECTV STREAM behind.
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.”