DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM and U-verse are offering $10 credits to customers affected by Nexstar Blackouts
Earlier this week, DIRECTV lost the rights to Nexstar-owned locals, including ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, due to a contract dispute. Now DIRECTV has announced that customers affected by the blackout will receive a one-time credit of $10.
The catch is DIRECTV, U-Verse TV and DIRECTV STREAM customers must apply for the one-time credit as it is not automatically included. If you are a DIRECTV STREAM customer, you can find how to request a $10 refund HERE. DIRECTV and U-Verse TV customers can get a refund by going HERE.
Just scroll down to where you can enter your postcode and choose which service you subscribe to. After you’ve determined your eligibility (you must have lost a local) you can follow the steps there to claim your $1[ads1]0 one-time credit.
Here are the details of the refund posted on the DIRECTV STREAM website: “Note: To receive your refund online, the email address you provide must be associated with an active DIRECTV STREAM account. You must also have a valid credit or debit card as a method of payment. Online refunds are not available for accounts paid with PayPal.”
A total of 159 Nexstar-owned local TV stations are now dark on DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM and U-Verse. NewsNation has also gone dark on DIRECTV.
This comes as Nexstar warned customers late last week that their stations could go dark on DIRECTV and DIRECTV STREAM. Nexstar is the largest broadcaster in the United States of local television programming. Now, Millions will be without any of its local stations on DIRECTV, U-verse and DIRECTV STREAM.
DIRECTV has accused Nexstar of asking for unjustified price increases in a statement sent to Cord Cutters News. “Nexstar has a long history of forcing programming breaks in an effort to unnecessarily raise prices for everyone at the expense of the communities they are licensed and trusted to serve,” said Rob Thun, DIRECTV Chief Content Officer. “We will continue to work with Nexstar to reach an agreement and will take all necessary steps to provide our customers with access to their favorite programs while protecting them from unjustified price increases.”
In a statement to Cord Cutters News, Nexstar insisted that they are only looking for a fair price. “Nexstar has been negotiating tirelessly and in good faith in an effort to reach a mutually acceptable multi-year contract with DIRECTV since May, offering the same fair market rates that it offered to other distribution partners with whom it completed successful negotiations over the past year. Nexstar routinely enters into amicable retransmission and carriage agreements with its cable, satellite and telecommunications partners – in the last three years alone, the company has successfully completed agreements with more than 500 distribution partners.”
Both sides seem to be digging in for a long battle. For now, at least DIRECTV subscribers can get a credit to help tune in the lost channels.
