Griffin Media and DirecTV have successfully reached a new carriage deal that restored the company’s Tulsa and Oklahoma City stations to the direct broadcast satellite TV service’s local lineups across Oklahoma.
”We’re so sorry that you were caught in the middle but do appreciate your support and patience,” Griffin said late Tuesday. “There are no other active negotiations going on at this time.”
On May 7, with severe weather season in Oklahoma already underway, a fresh retransmission consent agreement for the company’s two CBS affiliates serving the majority of viewers across the state could not be had.
As of today, KWTV-9 in Oklahoma City and sibling KOTV-6 in Tulsa are no longer being blocked by law to DirecTV subscribers. That wasn’t the case until today, even as Griffin Media granted DirecTV permission to continue carrying the stations as negotiations continue over a fresh carriage agreement. DirecTV declined, Griffin Media noted, blocking the stations for nearly one month from paying DirecTV subscribers.
“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.”
That transpired June 2.
For Griffin, it was 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.”
Not very good and considering dropping direct tv after many years of service. It’s storm season in Ok. Come on people fix it.
I’m getting ready to look elsewhere for my cable too. We can’t go much longer without watching channel 6 news and weather. The other stations just don’t measure up!
come on people. This has gone on long enough and I’m tired of not seeing our shows. Other options are looking better and better.
Regardless of who’s at fault (Griffin or DirectTV), it’s irresponsible to pull an entire network off the air endangering the lives of those of us who depend on the severe weather coverage. I’m very disappointed in Griffin and DirectTV. It’s forcing senior citizens to have to change their service providers which is a giant pain! the Fox affiliate in Tulsa is becoming our new go-to weather source. Please FIX THIS! You’re playing with the safety of Oklahomans and that’s not right.
OK, guys!! Enough is Enough! Let’s stop this squabbling and get KOTV back on DTV!
First. Realistically, all contracts are negotiable. However, seems like the bottom line is money as usual. Who is getting the dirty end, the consumer. This not just an Ok issue. Was happening in NY for a long time. Price wars for cable, internet, telephone you name it. Try being the consumer who pays for these services and then no compensation for loss of services. Bundle packages are great, until you lose a part of the package, And then what? So, please consider the consumer, or they may switch to another provider after so many years. Costly to do that. Inconvenient and in the meantime someone inconsiderate is making a huge profit. Time to get over yourselves people and start doing your job.
Second issue. Why are there so many channels such as Paramount plus that charge even more to see programs? Lots of channels aren’t even watched in most of these packages. It’s expensive enough just to have a package for needed channels, and then to have to pay even more on top of an already costly bundle.