Whoa! New Distant Networks Available to me!

[BobMurdoch]

I was just over at DishNetwork.com playing around when I clicked on the add programming button to see if anything new was available to me on the locals front (I've done this exercise once a month, usually to no avail as I only qualify for NYC Locals. I have waivers for CBS-W, NBC-W, and FOX-W which I use as a poorman's Sunday Ticket in the Fall).

Well Lo and Behold, it says that I qualify for Fox and NBC distants and noted that I already had the LA affiliates checked off and that I could add either Chicago, Denver, or Atlanta. I chose Denver as the Fox affiliate will usually have the best game of the week as Chicago and Atlanta would have the Bears and Falcons. I grabbed NBC as well just to add a little variety to my live TV viewing.

I don't know if this is a change or what, but I recommend you give it a shot if you wanted to add more broadcast networks but were unable previously..........

[BobMurdoch]

They have also automated the waiver request process. I requested LA and Denver to see if the ABC affilliate will finally cave as well as the other two Denver affiliates I don't automatically qualify for.......

[Jacob S]

This may not be the case after the court hearings with Dish over the networks are done.

[BobMurdoch]

I'll enjoy it while it lasts.

On a down note.... it looks like E* resubmitted my CBS-W waiver to LA on 5/1 (5 days before I discovered that they revamped their locals quailification page). When I signed up in 5/2000, I was able to get CBS-W right out of the box due to a blanket waiver. Either the blanket waiver was rescinded, or they are just getting an individual waiver to be safe. It looks like my CBS-W may be in jeopardy if WCBS rejects the waiver. (----, looks like that Iron Chef/Agency/South Park conflict on Saturday Nights will become an issue.......)

[grassvalley]

I just moved this week to a small out of the way town in Connecticut. 2 months ago I looked to see if I could get distant locals there with only PBS as a yes. After reading Bob's post I checked again. Sure enough dishnetwork.com said I could now get distant ABC, NBC, and Fox. That made my night. I called a CSR and told her I wanted them. She said I wasn't permitted to receive any distant locals expect PBS..ohh boy!! I told her all about the web site. She said she double checked her computer and the answer was still no. I called back to speak to a different CSR with the same answer.

I sent an email to E* using their web site but I don't think I'll get anywhere. I saved the web page to prove I'm not lying but I couldn't find an email address to send it.

any ideas...anyone????   soooo close

[jgoggan]

Well, I went to check and just clicking the Add Programming link gives me:

"Error 500--Internal Server Error
From RFC 2068 Hypertext Transfer Protocol -- HTTP/1.1:
10.5.1 500 Internal Server Error
The server encountered an unexpected condition which prevented it from fulfilling the request."

heh. So, I'll check later...

As for grassvalley's question... Can't you also add them online if you qualify like the web site says you do? I'm not really sure, but I thought you could. If you can, then maybe the web will let you do it even though the CSRs won't. :-)

- John...

[BobMurdoch]

I signed up through the website. Denver's FOX and NBC affiliates added last night and are on my guide!

[BobMurdoch]

The same thing happened a few years ago. When they futzed with the address checker I all of a sudden qualified for NY AND could pick Distant Nets (this was before Spot Beams) so I added Philly to the LA stations I already had. It only lasted about about 2 months though before they changed it again, and then they disappeared from my guide. We'll see how long it lasts this time.....

[BobMurdoch]

Well, I guess someone realized something is screwed up. They went back to the old address checker module and I don't qualify for any distants now using the old system.

Ah, technology.........

[grassvalley]

I just checked and I'm getting the same info from dishnetwork.com. I tried last night and again today to add the channels online but I get;

"TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ::
We are experiencing technical difficulties, we are unable to process your request at this time. You may:
try again in a few moments, or,
call the Customer Service Center at 1-800-333-DISH(3474)
for account assistance.
Cancel and return to main screen"


I thougt it might have been my computer, so I tried it at work but I got the same thing. My account must be messed up.

I've heard there are other ways to get them but, DAMM my parents for giving morals!!!   sorry if I'm not allowed to refer to that.

[BobMurdoch]

GRRRRRR. They denied my CBS-W waiver. Hey CBS! What gives they are both O & O stations. I watched it to discover NEW shows I was missing otherwise as I usually watch TV from 10pm - 1AM.

Oh well, it isn't the catastophe it would have been in the single tuner days thanks to my 721 (and my future 921), but I am going to hate losing west coast AFC games (the Raiders were usually on). Here in NYC we get the Giants and the Jets and that is usually IT.

[BobMurdoch]

On a happier note.....

The address checker seems to have been changed again. It shows me qualifying for NBC and FOX distant nets although ABC, CBS, and PBS are not qualifying for the distant nets.

A word of advice, sign up ONLINE to add the channels. It will automatically go through and add the channels, and make sure that you don't have a CSR who is using the old system or has some other reason to give you grief.

[Tanic]

I'm grandfathered for CBS. I went to their website today and it the address broker shows me eligible for all networks except CBS. Then went to the add programming page and it shows me eligible for all distant channels. Anyone have any idea if I add a second city via their website, if I might lose CBS?

[BobMurdoch]

You shouldn't have a problem, but I was grandfathered to CBS as well and they submitted a waiver request to CBS without my permission nor did they act on any action on my part. They simply submitted a waiver request on May 1st.... I don't know why. I still have CBS-W on my guide, but I expect it to disappear any time now. Which will be shortly followed by my angry call to the CSR for dropping the channel. I fully expect them to add salt to the wound and try to hit me with a "downgrade" charge as well (they did it once before when they dropped my Philly locals that I signed up for when the address broker said I qualified, but were then removed a month later with no explanation,... except the $5 downgrade charge).

[belsokar]

well...I have been getting all major networks (east and west) for 4 years now except for abc east...I checked the website, and they say I don't even qualify for what I have now...I logged into my account,...and it said I qualify for up to two distant packages...(and it showed logos of abc,cbs,nbc,fox)...I tried to add it,...and alas, go a similar error:

Error 500--Internal Server Error
From RFC 2068 Hypertext Transfer Protocol -- HTTP/1.1:
10.5.1 500 Internal Server Error
The server encountered an unexpected condition which prevented it from fulfilling the request.

we'll see what happens i suppose