WSB-TV may be removed from AT&T/DIRECTV on Feb. 2 as AT&T/DIRECTV refuse to agree to a fair agreement with our owner, Cox Media Group, to carry our station. If you will be affected by AT&T/DIRECTV’s decision to deprive you of important local news and programming during these critical times, make your voice heard! Call AT&T/DIRECTV today at 1-800-531-5000 and demand that they keep your local programming.
We cannot force AT&T/DIRECTV to keep retransmitting the stations. They go dark only if AT&T/DIRECTV so chooses. We are hopeful that AT&T/DIRECTV will abandon any plan to blackout our station to the detriment of viewers in favor of meaningful negotiations that lead to a mutually beneficial deal for all parties.
Cox Media Group said: “During these times of uncertainty, it is more important than ever that our viewers know their trusted local stations are there for them, providing the news and information they need to make critical decisions for their families. CMG stations take pride in being trustworthy resources for our communities, and we will fight to continue to fulfill this responsibility.”
Channel 2 programming will remain available for viewers to access over the air, and this dispute will not affect the vast majority of viewers, who are customers of other video providers. It should be noted that WSB-TV has reached over 100 agreements, including recent agreements with other major cable and satellite distributors.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is happening?
By law, WSB-TV must negotiate carriage agreements with cable and satellite companies like AT&T/DIRECTV. Usually, these deals are reached without any disruption to your service. In fact, our company has negotiated hundreds of agreements, including recent agreements with other large cable and satellite companies. Unfortunately, so far, AT&T/DIRECTV has refused to agree to a fair market deal with CMG for the WSB-TV’s programming and services that customers value. Because WSB-TV has yet to secure a deal with AT&T/DIRECTV, you could lose live access to the shows, sports and local news on Channel 2, which you rely on and are paying for. We are hopeful AT&T/DIRECTV will abandon its blackout plan and reach a fair deal with CMG.
2. As a AT&T/DIRECTV customer, what can I do to continue to watch my favorite shows on WSB-TV?
The best thing viewers can do is Call AT&T/DIRECTV at 1-800-531-5000. Tell AT&T/DIRECTV that you pay them a lot of money to watch your favorite shows on WSB-TV, including Good Morning America, Kelly Clarkson, Channel 2 Action News, World News Tonight, The Bachelor, the NBA, and more.
3. Why does WSB-TV charge cable and satellite operators a fee to carry their programming?
Despite what you may have heard, this dispute is not about WSB-TV seeking large fees. WSB-TV is among the highest rated channels on AT&T/DIRECTV. Producing and broadcasting high rated, top-quality programming is very expensive. We invest millions of dollars in our local news, weather, emergency programming and entertainment content. To keep doing that, we need a fair deal from AT&T/DIRECTV and all our distributors. We have over 100 carriage agreements, including those with every other major cable and satellite company that is carrying WSB-TV and are seeking a fair deal with AT&T/DIRECTV.
5. Won’t rates to subscribers go up if AT&T/DIRECTV has to pay WSB-TV?
Whether rates go up depends on decisions made by AT&T/DIRECTV. Like all cable and satellite companies, AT&T/DIRECTV is already charging you to receive WSB-TV as part of your monthly bill. We do not control how much AT&T/DIRECTV pays to other channels, charges you, or how it manages its business. We have and will continue to negotiate with AT&T/DIRECTV in good faith in an effort to successfully complete a deal with them.
6. If AT&T/DIRECTV stops carrying WSB-TV, will I get a refund on my bill?
It is up to AT&T/DIRECTV to resolve such questions with its customers. But you could call AT&T/DIRECTV at 1-800-531-5000 about a refund and let them know you will no longer be getting what you pay for – your favorite newscasts and programming from Channel 2.
7. Is there anything the public can do to help make sure that WSB-TV stays on AT&T/DIRECTV?
The best way for you to encourage a resolution is to register your support of how important it is for them to carry WSB-TV by calling AT&T/DIRECTV at 1-800-531-5000. You pay AT&T/DIRECTV a lot of money. It will listen to your voices.
You can also view WSB-TV Over the Air with an over the air antenna available at retail. Or you can contact and easily switch to any number of other providers that are committed to providing you with all the programming you watch every day:
o Comcast: 1-800-934-6489 or http://www.comcast.com
o Charter/Spectrum Cable: 1-833-694-9256 or 1-855-243-8892 or http://www.spectrum.com
o DISH: 1-800-333-3474 or http://www.dish.com
o Verizon FiOS: 1-877-218-8592 or http://fios.verizon.com
Regardless, we will continue to work hard to try and get a successful outcome to this negotiation so that you keep live access to your favorite news, weather, entertainment and sports programming, but the ball remains in AT&T/DIRECTV’s court to cut a fair deal.