DirecTV Viewers Lose Local Stations Across US Over Fee Dispute
- Fight with station owner Tegna imperils Sunday NFL broadcasts
- Satellite provider says 40% of customers in affected markets
DirecTV in a news release advised customers to use over-the-air antennas and online apps to watch college and NFL games carried by Tegna stations.
Photographer: Carlos Becerra/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
DirecTV subscribers in dozens of cities lost access to local NBC, ABC, CBS or Fox TV outlets because of a fee dispute between the satellite service and station owner Tegna Inc.
Sports broadcasts, including the National Football League’s Sunday games, may be affected if the parties don’t settle. Tegna blacked out its stations from DirecTV customers on Thursday, the satellite provider said. Tegna owns 64 TV stations in 51 markets that serve about 40% of DirecTV’s subscribers, according to the companies.