DISH Adds More Local TV

[Steve Mehs]

EchoStar added two more markets to its local TV slate - Ft. Myers, Fla., and Tyler, Texas. DISH Network's Ft. Myers local TV slate includes ABC affiliate WZVN, NBC affiliate WBBH, WB channel WTVK, PBS channel WGCU and Independent WRXY. The channels will be offered to DISH's Ft. Myers viewers at a $1 per month discount to the regular price of $5.99 per month until distant CBS and FOX stations are added to the package.

In Tyler, DISH Network is offering NBC affiliate KETK and FOX channel KFXK. Dallas CBS channel KTVT is also available for eligible subscribers in the Texas market. The market also will get a $1 discount on the local TV package regular price until an agreement is reached to provide the local ABC channel.


From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/mar2003/030703.shtm#five) (Used with Permission)

[Doug E]

I also read on the Lyngsat site this morning that the locals for Salinas, CA are now up on Echostar 8

[JWT]

In Tyler, DISH Network is offering NBC affiliate KETK and FOX channel KFXK. Dallas CBS channel KTVT is also available for eligible subscribers in the Texas market. The market also will get a $1 discount on the local TV package regular price until an agreement is reached to provide the local ABC channel.



Uhmmmmm, not quite exactly true. Dish makes it very clear the price is $5.99 for the 2 channels when you get them. Now if that`s an error and they do give a discount when you actually get bill, but $4.99 for 2 low budget local channels is still rather high. Also as per CBS most people in the Tyler/Longview DMA are ineligible due to the fact that KSLA from Shreveport covers most of the DMA with a grade B signal.

That is what I dont understand, my mother`s house is Grade B for Dallas--BUT cannot be subbed to the Dallas locals for being in the Tyler DMA--BUT cannot still cannot get CBS without a waiver unless KSLA grants it. How can a station outside one`s DMA be considered "local", but yet at the same time should Shreveport be uplinked by either provider one still could not legally subscribe to them?

So how is that one possible?

[TNGTony]

Doug,

The Monterey/Salinas became available on 2/20/03.

KION TV 46 (CBS - Monterey/Salinas, CA)
KION
9187

KSBW TV 8 (NBC - Salinas/Monterey/Santa Cruz, CA)
KSBW
9188

KCBA TV 35 (Fox/UPN - Salinas/Monterey, CA)
KCBA
9189

KCAH TV 25 (PBS -Watsonville/Salinas/Monterey, CA)
Repeater of KTEH TV 54 San Jose, CA
KCAH
9190

The only full power channel not in the package is the Univision affiliate.

See ya
Tony

[Hopper27]

Congress screwed the pooch when they setup the rules for this.

BTW, why does Tyler have its own channels? It's an hour outside of Dallas.

Jason

[gbranch]

Originally posted by Hopper27
Congress screwed the pooch when they setup the rules for this.

BTW, why does Tyler have its own channels? It's an hour outside of Dallas.

Jason

Most of the Dallas transmitters are in Cedar Hill, which is SW of Dallas proper, and about 100 miles from Tyler. Dallas OTA is only feasible in Tyler with a very large, directional antenna, and virtually impossible in Longview. Most of Longview is covered Grade B by Shreveport. Also, while Tyler is only about 80K, the Tyler-Longview DMA has a population of about 250K.

I agree that SHVA is big screw job. Why do cable companies get to carry channels from Tyler, DFW, and Shreveport, why Direct and Dish have to play by different rules :shrug:  

Later,

Greg S. Branch