CBS warns AT&T DirecTV customers they could lose channels amid another contract dispute

Updated at 3:10 p.m.: Revised to clarify that the negotiation deadline is 1 a.m. Saturday.

CBS is warning viewers that negotiations with Dallas-based AT&T could lead to a blackout of its television channels for DirecTV, U-verse and DirecTV Now customers if an agreement isn't reached by the deadline.

"CBS has reached timely, fair agreements with hundreds of other cable, satellite, telco and internet providers to carry our industry-leading, fan-favorite programming," the company said in a statement.  "AT&T, however, continues to propose unfair terms well below those agreed to by its competitors and may drop CBS unless we agree to those terms."

Dallas-Fort Worth is one of the markets where customers would be directly affected if CBS and AT&T aren't able to come to an agreement by the deadline, which is 1 a.m. Saturday. In D-FW, CBS owns KTVT-TV (Channel 11) and KTXA-TV (Channel 21); both are at risk of blackout.

Aside from D-FW, 16 other U.S. television markets could also be affected, including major metros such as San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Minneapolis and Miami.

"AT&T's willingness to deprive its customers of valuable content has become routine over the last few weeks and months, and recent negotiations have regularly resulted in carriage disputes, blackouts and popular channels being removed from their service," the CBS statement said.

AT&T is also involved in contract negotiations with Irving-based Nexstar Media Group, which has impacted DirecTV customers across the nation. Nexstar stations, which include local affiliates of NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC and The CW, have been blacked out since July 3.

AT&T issued a response to ongoing contract disputes on its TVPromise site, where it updates customers on disruptions to programming.

It said it's "disappointed" that CBS, the most-watched broadcast network, placed customers in the middle of negotiations.

"AT&T is on the side of customer choice and value and wants to keep KTVT and KTXA in our local customers' lineups," the company said. "Our goal is always to deliver the content our customers want at a value that also makes sense to them. We continue to fight hard for that here and appreciate our Dallas and Fort Worth customers' patience while we work this out with CBS."