WRTV launches campaign encouraging DirecTV customers to switch providers

Circle City Broadcasting has launched a campaign encouraging DirecTV customers to change television providers after WRTV was removed from the satellite company’s lineup.

The “Make the Switch” campaign, launched Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, offers a free gift to eligible DirecTV, AT&T U-verse and DirecTV Stream customers who switch to Comcast Xfinity or Charter Spectrum and provide proof of their new service.

The announcement did not indicate what the gift is. 

WRTV, the ABC affiliate in Indianapolis, Indiana, became unavailable on DirecTV platforms Aug. 24, 2026, amid a carriage dispute between Circle City Broadcasting and DirecTV. The outage affects the station’s local news, weather and sports programming, along with ABC network programming.

WRTV joined WISH and WNDY, both of which are also owned by Circle City Broadcasting as being unavailable on DirecTV services in the Indianapolis market. WISH and WNDY, which is known as MyIndy TV 23, have been off DirecTV, AT&T U-verse and DirecTV Stream for about six years.

“Locally owned and operated television stations like CCB’s are essential to keeping communities informed and connected in a unique way,” Circle City Broadcasting owner, president and CEO DuJuan McCoy said in a statement.

McCoy said the company would encourage viewers to use other providers if DirecTV does not reach an agreement covering Circle City Broadcasting’s local programming and network content.

Circle City Broadcasting is also launching a free viewer membership program for WRTV and WISH. The Insider Program will allow participants to take surveys and polls, provide programming feedback, participate in station activities and enter contests for prizes.

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Any viewer is eligible to participate in the Insider program. 

Circle City’s move to promote a preferred MVPD could become a case study in how ownership groups could leverage their combined audience as a negotiating point with DirecTV.

While WISH, as a CW affiliate, and WNDY, as an independent station carrying MyNetworkTV programming, aren’t “big three” — or even “big four” affiliates — WISH in particular offers a schedule that’s heavy on local news that viewers may miss enough to switch.

WISH also carries “Tamron Hall,” “Inside Edition,” and “Entertainment Tonight,” while WNDY tends to offer true crime and off-network drama repeats. WNDY also carries simulcasts of select WISH News 8 broadcasts. 

WRTV produces its own newscasts as well.