Local

AT&T U-Verse, DirecTV customers lose WHIO-TV signal on New Year’s Day

We regret any inconvenience caused by the decision of AT&T/DirecTV to remove WHIO-TV Channel 7 from its channel lineups. We continue to negotiate with AT&T/DirecTV and expect to have a deal in place soon that will return WHIO-TV Channel 7 to your service.

Our signal remains available free over-the-air with an antenna or from every other pay-TV provider in the Miami Valley.

Contact AT&T or DirecTV today and tell them to bring back WHIO-TV Channel 7.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Rob Rohr, WHIO-TV's Market Vice President and General Manager, issued the following statement:

"I am disappointed that my company and AT&T appear to be reaching an impasse that has led to a disruption in WHIO-TV's service for AT&T U-verse and DirecTV subscribers. In just the past few weeks, we have reached agreements with some of the largest video distributors in the country. At this point, every distributor besides AT&T/DirecTV has reached a long-term agreement to continue carrying WHIO-TV.

"We are asking only that AT&T/DirecTV offer a fair deal that adequately values WHIO-TV's award-winning news, sports, entertainment, weather and traffic programming. The fees cable and satellite companies pay us go to fund these important local services. Accepting unreasonable fees from AT&T/DirecTV would lead to less local news, less local sports, less local weather and less community involvement by WHIO-TV. “

Cox Media Group said the agreement with AT&T/DirecTV ends at 3 a.m. New Year’s Day. If AT&T and DirecTV no longer provide Channel 7 to their customers, viewers can still watch WHIO-TV over the air.

Cox said viewers can call DirecTV at 1-800-531-5000 and AT&T U-verse at 1-800-288-2020 to support WHIO-TV.

The company will continue to negotiate with AT&T U-verse and DirecTV. WHIO.com will update this story as the negotiations progress.