( CNN ) -- Maybe it pays to be a complainer . Several DirecTV customers are reporting on online forums that they were able to get up to $ 10 per month knocked off their bills because they threatened to leave the satellite TV company over the fact that Viacom programming is no longer available for DirecTV customers . `` Wow they must like me , I got $ 10 off per month for 12 months , Starz for free for 6 months , and NFL Sunday Ticket for $ 99 . So I come out $ 20 ahead after a year , '' one commenter wrote on a forum on the site Satellite Guys . `` All I did was say I 'd like to cancel due to the Viacom dispute . I was not expecting to get all that thrown at me . '' A dispute between satellite provider DirecTV and the media company Viacom led late Tuesday to nearly 20 million customers losing access to 26 Viacom channels , including MTV , Nickelodeon and Comedy Central . CNNMoney has more information on the dispute : `` Viacom is seeking a 30 % increase , or $ 1 billion more than its previous deal , DirecTV said in a statement . Viacom countered that its proposed increase totals ' a couple of pennies per day per subscriber . ' Disputes between media companies and cable or satellite TV providers have become increasingly common , but this one is hitting an especially wide audience . '' DirecTV announced that it would give its subscribers free access to premium Encore channels this month to show appreciation for their loyalty . `` To thank you for your patience until Viacom channels are returned , all eight Encore Channels ( including Encore Family ) will be made available to all customers thru July 31st , '' the company wrote Wednesday on its Facebook page . `` Tune to Channels 535 to 542 to start watching . '' People who called the company , however , seemed to get better offers . Another commenter on the Satellite Guys forum wrote that he or she received `` $ 5 off for 3 months , $ 5 off Starz 6 months , $ 5 off Sports Pack 6 months '' from the company . `` ( I ) only asked about it , never said I wanted anything ! Very well done Directv ! '' that commenter wrote . `` I got $ 25 off of Premier for 6 months , '' wrote another person . CNN could not independently verify these reports . In response to a question about whether the company is offering deals to customers who threaten to leave , a spokesman said only that DirecTV is `` always willing to work with our customers to keep them happy . '' `` We have not seen an impact on our subscriber numbers and an overwhelming number of our customers are telling us they will stick with us until this is resolved , '' the spokesman said in a statement . `` They appreciate that we are fighting on their behalf to keep their bills at an acceptable level . '' Several forums reported relatively long wait times for people who placed calls to DirecTV . And the Internet is full of hate mail for both DirecTV and Viacom . CNNMoney tech reporter David Goldman said he called the company to complain about his service and was offered a deal similar to those being discussed in the online forums . `` I figured with the Viacom thing , DirecTV might be extra amenable to giving me a deal , '' he wrote in an e-mail . `` Turns out I was right ... When I got someone and told her I was thinking of canceling , she found several deals to save me $ 25 a month and give me some nice perks . I 'm getting $ 5 off HBO for 3 months , free DVR for 12 months ( $ 10 off ) , and another $ 10 off my bill for 24 months . I also got NFL Sunday Ticket for free this year . '' The deals did n't appear to placate all customers , however . `` Just scored $ 5.00 monthly credit and free Showtime for 3 months , '' one commenter wrote on a FatWallet.com forum . `` Would rather have Comedy Central back ! '' CNNMoney 's Erin Kim contributed to this report .
DirecTV customers report getting deals to keep them with the company . Comment: This comes as the satellite company is in dispute with Viacom . Viacom channels , including Comedy Central , are no longer available on DirecTV .