It’s severe weather season in Oklahoma, and that’s only aggravated matters between Griffin Media and DirecTV, which failed to reach a fresh retransmission consent agreement for the company’s two CBS affiliates serving the majority of viewers across the state.
As of today, KWTV-9 in Oklahoma City and sibling KOTV-6 in Tulsa are being blocked by law to DirecTV subscribers. That’s the case even as Griffin Media granted DirecTV permission to continue carrying the stations as negotiations continue over a fresh carriage agreement. DirecTV declined, Griffin Media notes.
“Unfortunately, this means that DirecTV customers no longer have access to severe weather coverage … during Oklahoma’s severe weather season,” KWTV lamented, telling viewers via its website that Griffin Media “remains committed to reach an agreement at any time so viewers can regain access to the local news, weather, emergency alerts and community programming that national channels can’t provide and you rely upon.”
For Griffin, it is asking DirecTV “to pay a fair market rate for the right to carry News 9, just like they do other stations.”
The company continued, “Like every TV provider, DirecTV offers bundled packages that include a wide range of channels—news, sports, entertainment, and local stations. Griffin is simply asking to be fairly compensated for the local stations that are already part of those packages and we are not asking viewers to pay for something new—our stations are already included in your package.”
Unfortunately, Griffin added, “DirecTV is choosing to frame this as charging viewers for channels they don’t watch—but that’s how all TV packages work. Bundling ensures you have access to a wide range of programming, including the local stations that matter most when it counts like during emergencies and severe weather. If TV worked on a ‘pay only for what you watch’ model, most networks—including sports and entertainment channels—wouldn’t be available in a package at all. Bundles keep costs lower and ensure access to a wide range of programming, including local stations.”
When can viewers expect a resolution? “Griffin Media is committed and ready to negotiate and simply want DirecTV to fairly compensate us like they do other, bigger companies; we’re ready to make a deal today,” the privately held company said. “But unfortunately, we do not have a timeline.”
