New Locals news???

[shilton]

As we know, last week DirecTV rolled out plans for many more local cities and with the addition of those cities, Dish and DirecTV are about neck and neck (once they actualy get up and runing). We all know Charlie is working to stay ahead of the game having made locals more of a priority than new channels, HD, etc.
Any ideas or word from the inside as to when we will hear more major announcements from Charlie about what's to come. Soo far Dish seems to "trickle" the announcement here and there as a city goes up, but I would think to maintain their growth edge over DirecTV, they will soon have to let the ball drop and say "ok...we are going here, here and here on this date, etc".

When can we expect some news???

[Mike123abc]

The news comes when they finally get all the retransmission agreements in place. They no longer try to announce markets early because they have been burned too many times when a major network station tries to hold out for more money. DirecTV must have been hard at work to get all those towns lined up. Probably got the agreement but no satellite space for them until D-7s gets up in the air.

[Jacob S]

And I found out that the Charleston locals is going to require the bigger Paratodos Dish that is 18"x24" so I have to ask, can I get a switch and have the 18 inch dish at 101 and another 18 inch dish at 110 or 119 where the other slot is going to have the locals instead of putting up the Paratodos dish? How much does that switch cost and at which slot will they be putting these other locals up?

It used to be DirecTv customers would not have to get a bigger dish or a dish change to get the locals and Dish customers would have to change from a dish 300 to a dish 500 to get the locals and now that all new customers get a dish 500 the DirecTv customers will have to get a dish upgrade to get their locals. Will DirecTv being including the bigger dishes to get the locals or at least just in the areas where those locals are provided? What is the point in having the regular 18 inch dish in a locals market requiring the 18x24 dish?

[PeterB]

1) yes, you can use 2 18"s and a switch,its called a 22khz switch, and can be had for as little as $15. I dont think DTV has said which slot, but I would say 119, as thats where the new spotbeam bird is going..

2) existing subs are usualy offered a free 18x24 for a one year commitment on TC and locals.

[Jacob S]

If someone does not have a credit card can you still get the one year TC and locals deal to get a free 18x24 dish?

Also how can I find out which locals in the area will be offered, such as WB and other stations that are not the major networks?

[Karl Foster]

Here is a link to what I think is a pretty good deal from American Satellite:

http://www.americansatellite.com/cart/ord_viewcart.asp?SID=7OL8RG6522466R9TQ3TL5UYHVOJM1 LS7Q

It is a two-room Samsung system with 18X20 oval dish for $150.00 and includes installation. If you only need one receiver, it is only $60 for an oval dish and single receiver including installation.

You might find better deals from a local vendor or by calling Directv.

According to the Directv activation agreement, this is what it says about having a credit card:

ACTIVATION OF PROGRAMMING MAY BE SUBJECT TO CREDIT APPROVAL AND REQUIRES VALID SERVICE ADDRESS, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND/OR MAJOR CREDIT CARD. DEPOSIT OR PRE-PAYMENT MAY BE REQUIRED.

I activated with a CC (not autopay), so I'm not sure how sticky they are about it. A local retailer could help you better than we can on the forum regarding this.

[TNGTony]

As to what cities are coming on Dish, there was a post about 6 months ago by some one (I forget who) and they have been dead on right so far. The short list consited of :
Tyler, TX (Added)
Anchorage, AK (Retransmission consent issues with ALL major nets)
Monterey, (Added)
Huntsville, (Added)
Ft. Myers, (Added)
Shreveport,
Sioux Falls (Uplinked but not added yet)

So I think Sioux Falls will be #63 and Shreveport #64. Anchorage may be added eventually.

Widely reported (but no official info), San Juan, PR but only if the big three (2, 4, 11) can be signed. But the spot that covers PR and the VI has recently been turned off. Don't know what it means, but there you have it.

Other locals RUMORED--not official--DO NOT take this as fact--these are uncorroborated reports and some speculation on my part--there is no reason to think these cities will be added other than some people think it's possible:

One or two of the following:
Columbia, SC; Savanah, GA, Columbus GA; Ocala, Fl; Wilmington, NC. from 110°

One or two of the following:

Ft. Wayne, IN; Peoria, IL; Champeign/Springfield, IL; South Bend, IL; Paducah, KY; Evansville, IN; Terra Haute, IN

Possibly: Boise, ID. and Twin Falls, ID

One of the following: Jackson, MS; Mobile AL/Pensacola FL;

See ya
Tony

[gbranch]

Originally posted by TNGTony
So I think Sioux Falls will be #63 and Shreveport #64. Anchorage may be added eventually. 


Tony,

Question - If Shreveport is added, do you think SHVA will allow:

1. Inclusion of CBS KSLA-12 into the Tyler-Longview locals package? The Tyler DMA does not have a CBS affiliate, and KSLA has grade B into about the eastern 2/3's of the market.

2. Inclusion of PBS KLTS-24 into Tyler-Longview? Again, Tyler does not have a PBS and KLTS is grade B into about the northeastern 1/4 of the market. According to Dish's network qualification website, most addresses in Longview do not qualify for PBS National, and I am assuming this is because of KLTS.

When they start adding these smaller markets, these types of issues are going to start coming up.

Thanks,

Greg S. Branch

 

[crkeehn]

Still No Baltimore - Sigh

At least I am in good company, Comcast is eliminating the carriage of Baltimore AND Washington Locals. In this area they will only provide the Washington Locals. Do you think they are in cahoots?

[Karl Foster]

If Baltimore locals are of paramount importance to you, you still have a choice. It seems to me that large cities such as Baltimore, Columbus, and Milwaukee should be high priorities for Dish and they should be doing whatever they can to carry those LIL markets. They are losing HUGE population bases to their competitors. I don't run the DBS world, but I'd be doing whatever it took to get these large cities online with locals. YMMV.

[MAllen]

TNGTony,

Any time line on the supposed addtions of locals?? Specifically Jackson, MS. Hey, I gotta have hope, LOL.

[Greg Bimson]

crkeehn, what county are you in? I am in Anne Arundel, and I am trying to figure out how Comcast would remove Baltimore locals.

[TNGTony]

Originally posted by gbranch


Tony,

Question - If Shreveport is added, do you think SHVA will allow:

1. Inclusion of CBS KSLA-12 into the Tyler-Longview locals package? The Tyler DMA does not have a CBS affiliate, and KSLA has grade B into about the eastern 2/3's of the market.

The SHVIA allows (or does not forbid) any station that wishes to have copyright clerance to sell their TV station outside their area. So unless the channel has a lot of syndicated programs that are duplicated on Tyler station, there is no reason that Dish can't offer it IF THE SHREVEPORT STATION ALLOWS IT. (That is the difference between what we know as "superstations" and the existing rules. The old superstations had NO say and shared no revenue). A decent chunk of Tyler is in the grade B area of Shreveport; Another big chunk is in the grade B of Dallas CBS stations. So my GUESS is that this is another big reason why Dish picked Tyler (other than just geography). One station, two markets. Again that is a guess.

2. Inclusion of PBS KLTS-24 into Tyler-Longview? Again, Tyler does not have a PBS and KLTS is grade B into about the northeastern 1/4 of the market. According to Dish's network qualification website, most addresses in Longview do not qualify for PBS National, and I am assuming this is because of KLTS.
The rules for EDU and PBS are different enough that I'd be guessing if I gave you an answer. I don't know.

M Allen,

I have no idea on timelines. Just recently I've seen a post about Scranton, PA within a week, but that would be the first I heard of that market. Getting information about these things more than a few days in advance is very difficult.

REMEMBER THAT JACKSON, MS IS ONLY ONE OF A COUPLE OF POSSIBILITIES. And the mention of it comes from 2 year old information along with the current physical transponder space available right now. So please remember I didn't say "it's coming". I said, there is a CHANCE that it MIGHT be coming. :)

See ya
Tony

See ya
Tony

[Marcus S]

The real issue is that both E* & *D are going to eventually realize there is no return for new subs in a currently not served net market, say perhaps a town of 100k or less with a predicted 15% sub penetration. What they will painfully learn is that leaving strategically positioned distant nets on conus serves the greater many rurals both within the regional DMA and out of market distant net subs.

The current serve 200 locals race is no longer based on population/demographics, it simply how much we can cram onto spot to advertise we carry more net channels than the other guy. This will not be a win win war.

[Jacob S]

Does anyone know if WB will be on DirecTv for Charleston/Huntington, WV and if they usually add WB to a locals market where the market has it or does DirecTv not add WB in some of the markets that do have it? The problem is that Dish Network has it and DirecTv not having WB would cause one not to have WB to be recorded on a DirecTivo and to be received if one would get DirecTv for Charleston/Huntington, WV locals. One would have to have a subscription to Dish just to get the superstations.

[Chris Freeland]

Since I have not lived in Charleston for over 20 years I do not know if the Charleston-Huntington dma has a WB or not. Last summer when I was home visiting my parents in Cross Lanes, it seams like I remember a WB channel on Charter cable their, out of Ohio, I think, but do not know if it was imported in or is part of the dma. If that WB is in the Charleston-Huntington dma and if it is a Full-Power station, then D* is likely to have it, if not they probably won't.

[Geronimo]

Usually a WB affiliate would ask for must carry status---wirh either provider.

[TNGTony]

Jacob,

Here are the local stations in the Charleston/Huntington DMA:

WSAZ 3 (NBC) Huntington
WCHS 8 (ABC) Charleston
WVAH 11 (Fox) Charleston
WOWK 13 (CBS) Huntington
WLPX 29 (PAX) Charleston
WHCP 30 (WB) Portsmouth, OH
WPBY 33 (PBS) Huntington
WTSF 61 (Ind.) Ashland, KY
WKAS 25 (PBS/KET) Ashland, KY
WOUB 20 (PBS) Athens, OH
WPBO 42 (PBS) Portsmouth, OH
WJOS-LP 27 (Ind.) Pomeroy, OH
WKPI 22 (PBS/KET) Pikeville, KY

One of the KETs and the LP channel are not eligible for must carry. Other than that, these are all eligible for must carry. So, unless Paxon Communications asks for something in return for carriage, it will be a must carry channel.

See ya
Tony

[Brett]

Originally posted by Greg Bimson
crkeehn, what county are you in? I am in Anne Arundel, and I am trying to figure out how Comcast would remove Baltimore locals.

I heard Comcast removed Baltimore stations (2, 11, and 13) recently in Prince Georges County (within D.C. DMA). I dont know what county crkeehn is, but within Baltimore DMA, Comcast cannot remove all the commercial Baltimore stations. If he is in D.C. DMA and wants Baltimore stations, the best solution is an over the air antenna.


In Howard County (Baltimore DMA), Comcast moved WBFF45 to Ch.5 and WTTG5 to Ch.75. Prior, WTTG5 was on its over the air CH.5 and WBFF45 was on CH.30.

Comcast is only carrying WETA's digital feeds within D.C. DMA systems. This was Comcast's decisions and WETA didnt have a say but would have liked being on Baltimore Comcasts. Its analog is still on Baltimore area Comcasts. NC8 (NewsChannel8) is only carried in D.C. DMA Comcasts, not Baltimore Comcasts.

I dont think its fair Comcast is able to sell 4 of the VHF D.C. channels in Baltimore market, and DirecTV cannot. But with a rotor antenna you get so much more than what Comcast would give anyways. Now if only Comcast was forced to offer the DBS companies CCSN Philly.