DirecTV Gives Subscribers Choice to Cut Local Stations

If you are tired of paying large sums of money for inconsistent cable channels, DirecTV has devised a solution that is sparking controversy. This content distributor revealed that they would allow their subscribers the option to opt out of their local TV stations’ feeds, giving them a discount as a result. Any subscriber that chooses this option can cut down their expense by $12 every month, totaling to $144 in a year.

Rob Thun, the chief content officer of DirecTV, expressed that consumers have shown displeasure for years about the expense and restricted choices of pay TV. Their new ‘No Locals’ package is an attempt to give the customers the freedom to avoid content they’re not interested in and pay a price more aligned with their viewing preferences.

This action signifies a wider push back from national distributors concerned about the amount of top-notch video entertainment shifting to streaming hubs, sold directly by corporations like Walt Disney Co., NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Feeds from local channels have been a significant cause of disputes between large entertainment companies and their cable and satellite distributors. Despite these, DirecTV wants to develop more collaborative models in their dealings with broadcasters to reduce the instances of local station blackouts and control escalating costs.

Controversy: A disagreement or discussion about a matter that people feel very strongly about.

Distributor: A person or organization that helps sell products or services for others to a wider range of customers, often by supplying them to shops.

Disputes: A serious disagreement or argument.

Escalating: Increasing rapidly.