In a cruel twist for DirecTV’s San Diego subscribers, the satellite provider pulled KFMB (CBS8) just hours before the station was to air the Chargers preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys. And add insult to injury, the simulcast on NFL Network was blacked out to protect the local broadcast so it was a double whammy for subscribers.
Multichannel News reports that station owner Midwest Television and DirecTV have been negotiating a retransmission agreement for several months and the station says it offered six weeks of extensions to work out a deal to no avail.
On its website, KFMB puts the blame for the blackout solely at the feet of DirecTV’s new owners, AT&T:
This black out is brought to you by Wall Street. When AT&T bought DirecTV, it told Wall Street that it would reduce its programming costs by 20%. Now, AT&T/DirecTV has decided to make San Diego subscribers responsible for the promises AT&T made to its Wall Street investment bankers. CBS8 is only asking DirecTV to agree to the same low rates that other companies (including AT&T U-Verse) have agreed to pay. AT&T/DirecTV has refused to do that. We can’t give in to AT&T/DirecTV (and its Wall Street backers) and keep delivering to you the high quality local sports and entertainment programming you’ve come to expect from us.
However, DirecTV says it was KFMB which pulled its signal:
We intend to get KFMB back for our customers very soon and apologize for this temporary disruption. KMFB is blacking out DIRECTV homes unless customers pay more than double just to get back the same KFMB shows that remain available for free over-the-air on channel 8 and often at CBS.com
Local broadcasters including KFMB have now blacked out their communities more than 65 times already this year, forcing families to pay billions of dollars extra to keep conventional “free” broadcast TV. We appreciate your patience since it will help to keep your bill lower.
At its Twitter account, KFMB told its followers that it will continue to work towards a resolution:
Not good. @DIRECTV has made a decision 2 remove @CBS8 programming. We will keep working towards a solution #keepcbs8 pic.twitter.com/UbKM40NbG2
— News 8 San Diego (@News8) August 14, 2015
And no matter who’s to blame, fans just want to see their Chargers:
https://twitter.com/MNicoTarm/status/632019024335863808
About to cancel @DIRECTV – THIS IS BS!!! @CBS8 programming. We will keep working towards a solution #keepcbs8 pic.twitter.com/fXkkwVPe6M
— Alex Aguilar (@AlexEAguilar) August 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/oldcdfchief/status/632037950771982336
Hey @DIRECTV Bring back @CBS8 to your lineup! http://t.co/JpZODHc10H #KeepCBS8 – you are messing with my FOOTBALL. NOT HAPPY
— Jackie (@JackieB_007) August 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/mstanicek/status/632036125901631489
I feel your pain Hey @DIRECTV Bring back @CBS8 to your lineup! http://t.co/NMuEDYPUZZ #KeepCBS8 https://t.co/pUS8zFhaAb
— MMHost (@ChopperKat) August 14, 2015
So it’s another dispute that leaves viewers in the middle. And as the two sides continue their war of words, golf fans in San Diego suddenly find watching the 3rd and final rounds of the PGA Championship on CBS8 very much in doubt. Hopefully, the two sides will find a resolution soon.
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About Ken Fang
Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.
He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.
Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.