Why isn't CBS on AT&T?

You’ve settled in for your favorite primetime show on CBS, tuned in for the big NFL game, or simply turned on the local news, only to be greeted by a frustrating black screen or a placeholder message. If you’re an AT&T customer using DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, or U-verse, you’ve likely asked the burning question: Why isn’t CBS on AT&T?

This sudden disappearance of a major network is more than a minor inconvenience; it disrupts your routine, your entertainment, and your access to vital local journalism. The culprit, almost always, is a high-stakes business negotiation gone sour—a channel carriage dispute. These battles between content providers like Paramount Global (CBS's parent company) and distributors like AT&T have become an unfortunate norm in the pay-TV industry.

This comprehensive guide will demystify the complex world of carriage fees, explain the history of AT&T vs CBS blackouts, and, most importantly, provide you with actionable solutions to get your CBS programming back today. We’ll break down who’s involved, why these fights happen, and what it means for your monthly bill.

What is CBS? America’s Most-Watched Network

To understand the value at the heart of this dispute, we must first appreciate what CBS represents. CBS isn't just another channel; it's a broadcasting powerhouse. Owned by Paramount Global, CBS consistently ranks as one of the most-watched television networks in the United States.

Its programming lineup is a formidable mix of critically acclaimed content that appeals to a massive audience:

• Primetime Hits: Shows like NCIS, Young Sheldon, The Equalizer, FBI, and Survivor routinely dominate the ratings.

• Blockbuster NFL Coverage: CBS holds the rights to broadcast AFC games, which include teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals. Sunday afternoons on CBS are a ritual for millions of football fans.

• Prestigious News Division: CBS Evening News, 60 Minutes, and CBS Mornings are institutions in broadcast journalism.

• Local Affiliates: For many viewers, their local CBS channel is the primary source for news, weather, and emergency alerts in their community.

This immense popularity is precisely why CBS can command high fees from distributors like AT&T—and why its absence is so deeply felt.

Which AT&T Services Are Affected by the CBS Blackout?

When a carriage dispute occurs, it rarely affects just one service. The CBS blackout on AT&T typically impacts all of AT&T's television distribution platforms. This includes:

• DirecTV: The satellite TV service, once a separate company but now owned by AT&T, often bears the brunt of these disputes, affecting millions of subscribers nationwide.

• DirecTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV): The company's live TV streaming service is also included in these negotiations, meaning streaming customers lose access just like satellite users.

• AT&T U-verse: While its customer base has shrunk, the fiber-optic IPTV service is also part of the same carriage agreements and is affected by blackouts.

It's important to note that these disputes are often regional. They typically involve specific local CBS affiliates whose parent companies are negotiating with AT&T, not necessarily the entire national network at once. However, large-scale negotiations with Paramount Global can lead to widespread blackouts.

Why Isn’t CBS on AT&T? The Root of Carriage Disputes

The core answer to "Why isn't CBS on AT&T?" boils down to two words: retransmission consent.

What are Retransmission Consent Fees?

In the simplest terms, retransmission consent is the legal right of a local broadcast station (like your local CBS affiliate) to charge a pay-TV provider (like AT&T) for the right to carry its signal.

This system was established by the Cable Television Protection and Competition Act of 1992. Before this, cable companies could rebroadcast local channels for free. The law changed to recognize the value that local stations create and allow them to be compensated for it.

The Negotiation Breakdown

When the contract between a content owner (Paramount Global/CBS) and a distributor (AT&T) expires, they must negotiate a new one. These talks cover the per-subscriber fee AT&T will pay to carry each CBS station.

The dispute arises when both parties are far apart on the new fee. CBS, pointing to its high ratings and valuable live sports and news, will demand a significant increase. AT&T, facing cord-cutting and wanting to control costs for its customers, will push back.

If no deal is reached by the contract deadline, the broadcaster pulls its consent, and the provider is legally obligated to remove the CBS channel from AT&T lineups. This is the blackout.

Each side uses its leverage:

• CBS's Leverage: The threat of angry customers leaving AT&T because they can't watch the NFL or their favorite shows.

• AT&T's Leverage: The threat of losing millions in subscriber fees and the promise to "fight for its customers" against rising content costs.

A History of AT&T vs CBS Blackouts

This is not the first time viewers have faced this problem. AT&T and CBS have a history of contentious negotiations.

The most notable recent CBS blackout on DirecTV occurred in July 2019. It was a massive, nationwide dispute that lasted for over a month, affecting millions of DirecTV, U-verse, and AT&T TV Now customers right before the start of the NFL preseason. It was one of the longest and most widespread blackouts in history, finally resolving just in time for the regular season.

These historical precedents show a pattern: disputes often happen right before the fall TV season or the start of major sporting events, when the broadcaster has maximum leverage. The resolution typically involves AT&T agreeing to a higher fee, though the exact terms are almost always kept confidential.

The Real Impact: How the CBS Blackout Hurts Viewers

While corporations negotiate, the real pain is felt by the subscribers caught in the middle. The impact on viewers is significant:

• Loss of Local News and Emergency Information: For many, their local CBS affiliate is a trusted source for daily news, weather forecasts, and critical emergency alerts during severe weather.

• Missed NFL Games and Sports: Being unable to watch your home team play on Sunday afternoons is a major frustration for sports fans. This is often the biggest pain point.

• Disrupted Primetime Viewing: Fans of popular CBS dramas and comedies are forced to find alternative, often less convenient, ways to watch new episodes.

• General Inconvenience and Frustration: Paying a hefty monthly bill for a service that suddenly lacks a key channel leads to justified anger and a feeling of powerlessness.

AT&T vs CBS: Who’s Really to Blame?

This is the million-dollar question, and the answer depends on who you ask. Both parties issue press releases designed to win public sentiment.

• AT&T's Perspective: AT&T typically positions itself as the consumer advocate, fighting against greedy networks that demand exorbitant fee increases, which ultimately get passed down to the customer in the form of higher monthly bills. Their statements often encourage customers to contact CBS directly to complain.

• CBS's Perspective: CBS argues that it is simply asking for fair market value for its highly popular content. They state that the fee they are asking for is in line with what other distributors have already agreed to and that AT&T is being unreasonable and refusing to negotiate fairly.

From a consumer advocacy perspective, both sides share blame. The entire system of retransmission consent is often criticized for creating these hostage situations where customers are used as bargaining chips. The real "blame" lies in a business model that incentivizes these public standoffs.

Your Solutions: How to Watch CBS Without AT&T

You don't have to sit and wait for the corporations to figure it out. There are several effective alternatives for CBS content that you can use today.

1. Paramount+: This is CBS's own streaming service. The premium plan ($11.99/month) includes your live local CBS station (in most markets), allowing you to watch primetime, news, and NFL games just as you would on cable. It also has a massive on-demand library of CBS shows. Learn more about Paramount+ here.

2. Live TV Streaming Services: Services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and FuboTV all carry local CBS affiliates in most areas. They act as full cable replacements and are not affected by AT&T's dispute.

3. Over-the-Air (OTA) Antenna: This is often the best and cheapest solution. A one-time purchase of a digital HD antenna can give you free, high-quality access to your local CBS channel and all other major broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, FOX). The picture is often even better than satellite or cable because it's an uncompressed signal.

4. Switch Providers: If you're out of contract, you could consider switching your pay-TV provider to one that currently carries CBS, such as Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, or DISH Network (but check for their own potential disputes!).

Will CBS Return to AT&T? The Current Outlook

Will CBS return to DirecTV? In almost all cases, yes. These disputes are rarely permanent. Both companies have a strong incentive to make a deal: CBS loses significant per-subscriber revenue during a blackout, and AT&T risks losing customers to competitors.

The "when" is the unknown variable. Blackouts can last for a few days, several weeks, or, as in the 2019 case, over a month. They typically end when the financial pain of the blackout outweighs the pain of accepting the other side's terms.

The long-term industry trend is toward more fragmentation and more disputes, not less. As traditional pay-TV subscribers decline, both networks and providers are fighting for a larger piece of a shrinking pie. This dynamic suggests that channel carriage disputes will continue to be a feature of the TV landscape.

Conclusion: Don’t Wait for a Resolution

The disappearance of CBS from AT&T services is a frustrating reality of the modern television industry. While the root cause—carriage disputes and retransmission fees—is complex, the outcome for viewers is simple: a loss of access to cherished programming.

Understanding the "why" behind the blackout is the first step. The second, and more important step, is taking action. You are not powerless. By utilizing an HD antenna for free local TV or subscribing to a service like Paramount+ for a comprehensive CBS experience, you can immediately regain control of your viewing. These solutions often provide a better, more flexible experience than waiting for corporate giants to settle their differences.

While CBS will likely return to DirecTV and other AT&T services eventually, you don't have to miss a single episode of NCIS or a snap of the big game while you wait.

Faq

1. Why did CBS disappear from my AT&T service?

CBS was removed due to a carriage dispute between AT&T and Paramount Global. Their contract expired, and they failed to agree on new terms for retransmission consent fees, leading to a blackout.

2. Is the CBS blackout on AT&T permanent?

No, it is almost certainly temporary. These disputes are a negotiating tactic and are resolved when a new contract is signed. However, they can last for several weeks.

3. Who owns CBS?

CBS is owned by Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS), a major mass media conglomerate.

4. Which AT&T services are affected by the CBS blackout?

The dispute typically affects all AT&T video services, including DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, and AT&T U-verse.

5. How can I watch CBS without AT&T?

You can use an over-the-air antenna for free, subscribe to Paramount+ for live local CBS and on-demand, or use a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

6. Will I get a credit on my bill for the missing channel?

AT&T sometimes offers small, automatic credits to affected customers during prolonged blackouts, but they are not guaranteed. You can contact customer service to ask.

7. Was there a past CBS and AT&T blackout?

Yes, the most significant one was in July 2019, which lasted for over a month and affected all AT&T TV services nationwide.

8. Why do cable and satellite companies fight with networks over fees?

It’s a fundamental business negotiation. Networks want to be paid more for their valuable content, while providers want to control costs to keep customer bills from rising too quickly, which accelerates cord-cutting.

9. Can I watch the NFL on CBS without AT&T?

Absolutely. You can watch with an HD antenna, through Paramount+, or on another live TV streaming service that carries your local CBS channel.

10. What should I do if CBS is not on my AT&T lineup?

First, check the official ATTV or DirecTV outage pages for confirmation. Then, explore alternatives like an antenna or a free trial of a streaming service like Paramount+ or YouTube TV to bridge the gap.

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