A Weigel Diginet Gains DirecTV Distribution

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It’s one of several digital multicast television networks owned and distributed by Weigel Broadcasting, the Norm Shapiro-led entity known for its ownership of The CW Network affiliate serving Chicago and the CBS affiliate in Milwaukee.


Now, one of its siblings to MeTV is being added to DirecTV.

Weigel’s classic drama and action-adventure channel Heroes & Icons is now available nationwide to DirecTV satellite customers, complementing its ongoing availability to the direct broadcast satellite’s streaming and U-verse homes.

For those with DirecTV, H&I will be available via Channel 385, in HD.

It has been on U-Verse since December 2015 and a streaming option for DirecTV users since October 2021.

“We appreciate the growing partnership we have with DirecTV that allows for our national
networks, MeTV and H&I, which are established viewer favorites, to be carried on their satellite and streaming platforms for their customers’ enjoyment,” said Neal Sabin, Vice-Chairman of Weigel Broadcasting Co.

Linda Burakoff, DirecTV’s SVP of Content and Programming, added, “This agreement provides Weigel a strong opportunity to grow its national network viewership and sponsors, while ensuring our customers continue to possess consistent, reliable access to Weigel’s local stations. We continue to work creatively with programmers like Weigel with broadcast properties to fulfill our mutual business interests in ways that consumers gain greater choice, value, and reliability they deserve.”

Meanwhile, TEGNA stations remain absent from DirecTV’s DBS, streaming, and U-verse homes, thanks to a retransmission consent impasse that began November 30.

This came after a bitter fight against DirecTV commenced in October 2022 with Mission Broadcasting, an independently owned company that sees its stations (including WPIX-TV in New York) operated by Nexstar Media Group.