Locals and Distant Networks

[Matt]

I currently get distant networks East and West feeds on E*.

Once locals become available in my area and I add them will they turn off my distant networks?

E* has been cool in the past when I have made changes to my package by not turning off my distant networks.

I don't want to lose my time shift.

[RichW]

As has been stated many many times before, the availability of locals on E* DO NOT affect your eligibility for distant locals under SHVIA. If your distants get turned off, it would be because you are not eligible for them in theat you do not live in an "unserved" geographic area. Two thinngs may modiffy this in the future.

One is that the current court case involving distant carriage by E* may result in additional shut-off of folks who are in Grade B areas. It is possible this will happen as a result of a judges ruling in Miami. I hope E* will appeal if this happens.

Another factor may be that some local stations, as a condition of carriage, may require a DBS provider to not sell distant locals anywhere in the DMA, even in the unserved areas. I have heard that some of the DirecTV carriage contracts require this, but I have not been able to find anyone who has been effected byt such private agreements if they truly exist.

E* has always attempted to get distant locals to everyone possible - which is the reason for the Miami suit.

[telekol]

I would like to know if anyone getting local channels is getting dolbydigital 5.1 . As of right now I only get the dolby 5.1 on 300,303,318,319,350 and 351 and the occasional ppv. I know many networks and locals transmit 5.1 why dont we get it from Dish???

[TNGTony]

Only the "DT" channels transmit 5.1. To my knowlege Dish and DirecTV only carry the "TV" channels for locals. The "TV" channels cannot carry Dolby Digital 5.1 since the tranmission signal is analogue.

So the answer is no. The 5.1 sound is only available on the channels you mentioned.

See ya
Tony

[Jeff_R]

5.1 is only available on the CBS E/W feed for those qualified. As Tony said, only DT channels have any Dolby Digital at all. Even CBS is only for special events...

Jeff