If there’s any doubt that the absence of Indianapolis’ ABC affiliate from the local DirecTV channel lineup will be prolonged, due to a retransmission consent impasse between the direct broadcast satellite service provider and the TV station’s owner, that was all but erased by DuJuan McCoy as the last day of August began.
The owner and President/CEO of Circle City Broadcasting is asking local TV viewers to switch from DirecTV to one of two cable TV service providers in the Indianapolis DMA. And, if they do so and can prove it, the parent of WRTV-6 in Indianapolis will award a free gift.
If one were to “Make the Switch,” they’ll become an INSIDER, and become part of a new viewer rewards campaign encouraging eligible DirecTV, AT&T U-verse, and DirecTV Stream subscribers to switch to Comcast’s Xfinity or Charter’s Spectrum offerings.
Note that Dish is not noted as an option, nor is YouTube TV.
As Circle City sees it, “The campaign is designed to help viewers reconnect with three Indiana-based, locally owned and operated television stations that have been removed from DirecTV platforms.” It also allows an INSIDER to “share your voice, get exclusive opportunities and have chances to win.”
While WRTV’s absence from DirecTV is just one week in duration, McCoy and DirecTV have been sparring over what is considered “fair value” for carriage of The CW Network affiliate in Indianapolis — local news-intensive WISH-8 — and MyNetwork TV affiliate WNDY-23 for some six years, following Circle City’s purchase of the stations from Nexstar Media Group.
With no end to each party’s differences in sight, McCoy is now taking a new offensive approach: go elsewhere, Indianapolis.
“By removing Circle City Broadcasting stations from its lineup, DirecTV has effectively eliminated access to half of Indianapolis’ commercial television stations for its subscribers and is, more than likely, still charging the customer for WRTV although they are not receiving the channel … If DirecTV will not fairly recognize the value of our local focus and quality network programming from CW and ABC, we will encourage viewers to choose providers that do.”
