DirecTV viewers lose WTAE after negotiations for a new deal fail

DirecTV customers cannot watch WTAE until a new agreement is made between its parent company, Hearst Television, and the cable provider.

The companies are at an impasse as negotiations for a renewed retransmission deal failed Friday.

Broadcasting was cut that afternoon. Customers saw a message on the scene when attempting to tune in.

It said Hearst Television, the owner of the channel, has removed it from the customer’s lineup.

“We share your frustration and regret any inconvenience,” the message said. It also prompted customers to visit tvpromise.com for more information.

Hearst officials believe the cable provider does not want to give them a fair deal to show its programming.

“We have made significant investments to deliver top tier programming to our viewers and DirecTV is seeking the right to carry our stations at below market rates, which is neither fair nor reasonable,” according to a company statement. “To be clear: we have not ‘blacked out’ our station. You may continue to receive our station for free — over the air, or by other satellite distribution, and, where available, from cable operators.”

Hearst officials said people can determine what antenna they need to receive the station’s signal at antennaweb.com.

Customers can voice their concerns to DirecTV via its customer service line at 800-531-5000 or 800-288-2020.

Verizon, Comcast viewers also lose channels

Verizon Fios customers are facing a similar situation with WPXI because the contract between Verizon and Cox Media Group, WPXI’s parent company, also expired Dec. 31, according to a statement on the WPXI website.

Comcast also dropped the Cox-owned Pittsburgh Cable News Channel (PCNC) from its lineup starting Wednesday, a move Comcast attributed to a routing reevaluation of its channel lineup.