Raycom Stations Warn of Potential DirecTV Blackout

[pattykay]

Not really, if D*s history holds, its very rare that they actually drop channels for contracts, typically it comes down to the last minutes and then gets an extension and then a resolution.

This is Raycom we are talking about here. You must have forgotten what happened three years ago. The Raycom channels actually were pulled from Directv for about a week. In fact, Directv had simultaneous disputes with Raycom and Dispatch, knocking out all of the CBS affiliates in this area: WOIO Cleveland (Raycom), WTOL Toledo (Raycom), and WBNS Columbus (Dispatch). The Dispatch dispute was resolved before Raycom was, which is kind of surprising considering that Dish has had the opposite experience negotiating with these companies. Dispatch has a history of long blackouts on Dish, while Dish has only had one prolonged outage with Raycom that I can remember. That blackout also lasted about a week, just like the Raycom / Directv blackout.

 

[Jimbo]

unless you get an hs17,a s the am21 wont work with that

Right, but the way the set up is now (unless you upgrade to the HS17) they can't stop you from using it ... of course, it doesn't actually scan.

 

[Jimbo]

This is Raycom we are talking about here. You must have forgotten what happened three years ago. The Raycom channels actually were pulled from Directv for about a week. In fact, Directv had simultaneous disputes with Raycom and Dispatch, knocking out all of the CBS affiliates in this area: WOIO Cleveland (Raycom), WTOL Toledo (Raycom), and WBNS Columbus (Dispatch). The Dispatch dispute was resolved before Raycom was, which is kind of surprising considering that Dish has had the opposite experience negotiating with these companies. Dispatch has a history of long blackouts on Dish, while Dish has only had one prolonged outage with Raycom that I can remember. That blackout also lasted about a week, just like the Raycom / Directv blackout.

I do remember when WTOL was down .... however, I could have swore that WTOL is now Grey , not Raycom, I was looking on thier website the other night but couldn't find any thing ... maybe Grey is owned by Raycom .... I haven't seen anything posted yet on the TV about a possible disruption, or online at least thier website.

 

[Sparkman]

I do remember when WTOL was down .... however, I could have swore that WTOL is now Grey , not Raycom, I was looking on thier website the other night but couldn't find any thing ... maybe Grey is owned by Raycom .... I haven't seen anything posted yet on the TV about a possible disruption, or online at least thier website.

WTOL is Raycom
Raycom Television Stations - Station Index

 

[Jimbo]

WTOL is Raycom
Raycom Television Stations - Station Index

Is Grey part of Raycom then ?
I'll have to pay attention tonight when the news comes on, its usually in the bottom corner.
Maybe I'm thinking about 13abc, I watch both of them, so, maybe thats what I was thinking.

 

[goaliebob99]

Curious where you got this info...was it from an installer or CSR? People get told all kinds of wild things by them that we know aren't true and never come true. If it was from someone in Directv in an executive or engineering role, then that's great news! I've wondered why they don't support OTA better since it would be so useful during disputes - and Directv's CEO even mentioned that during one of their earnings calls a few years back. Yeah I know not everyone can take advantage of OTA, but even if only half of Directv's customers in a given DMA had an OTA option that would tilt the playing field for negotiations.

I would assume a new OTA device will support ATSC 3.0 for future proofing, which is probably why the HS17 would came out without the option - the chips just aren't quite ready yet. I hope they would also something about their guide data format too. That has nothing to do with the AM21's hardware so a new OTA module won't fix that. They need to alter the guide data stream and software to address that.

Installer or CSR... I know better than that! LOL I can't comment but it does fall under the great news if you know what I mean! It has been on the radar for a while and you are correct about it being mentioned a few years back. I haven't seen or heard anything on supporting ATSC 3.0. I agree that it would be great to have that option, but I don't think it will be an option until we see wide adoption by broadcasters.

 

[Sparkman]

Is Grey part of Raycom then ?
I'll have to pay attention tonight when the news comes on, its usually in the bottom corner.
Maybe I'm thinking about 13abc, I watch both of them, so, maybe thats what I was thinking.

ch 13 website designed by Gray Digital Media, so I'd say they are the ones owned by Gray

 

[edisonprime]

I just closed my Directv account, so it looks like I dodged a bullet with this one.

I'm kinda frustrated myself. I just lowered my DirecTV package to the Select package so I can pay some bills. I'm anxious for the day when I can go back to Premier and HD Extra Pack!

 

[pattykay]

Is Grey part of Raycom then ?
I'll have to pay attention tonight when the news comes on, its usually in the bottom corner.
Maybe I'm thinking about 13abc, I watch both of them, so, maybe thats what I was thinking.

Gray owns WTVG. I remember that because they also bought the cable-only CW affiliate and moved the CW programming to a subchannel of WTVG. (ABC on 13.1, CW on 13.2)

 

[pattykay]

I'm kinda frustrated myself. I just lowered my DirecTV package to the Select package so I can pay some bills. I'm anxious for the day when I can go back to Premier and HD Extra Pack!

The Select package is what I had before I closed my account.

 

[Sparkman]

Raycom Extends DirecTV Agreement | TVNewsCheck.com

 

[Sparkman]

Raycom Extends DirecTV Agreement | TVNewsCheck.com

Extended again thru 9/12, I'm sure due to Irma.

 

[AZ.]

Extended again thru 9/12, I'm sure due to Irma.

Very nice to see people more important, than profits then! I hope that is the case!