Local Markets scheduled by Dishnet for a Q2, Q3, Q4 launches in 2003

[Darkman]

Info from Dishnet's Retailer Chat:

Locals Planned to be launched in 2003 by Dishnetwork:

Q2 2003 Planned Launches (Subject to Change):
(Looks like alphabetical order to me - so doesn't mean one is before the other one):
- Anchorage, AK
- Green Bay, WI
- Jackson, MS
- Knoxwille, TN
- Little Rock, AR
- Roanoke, Va
- Shrevenport, LA
- Tallahassee, FL
- Yakima, Wa

Q3 2003 Planned Launches (Subject to Change):
(Looks like alphabetical order to me - so doesn't mean one is before the other one):
- Albany, NY
- Baltimore, MD
- Boise, ID
- Champaign, IL
- Charleston, WV
- Columbus, OH
- Davenport-Moline, IA
- Duluth, MN
- Evansville, IN
- Eugene, OR
- Ft. Wayne, IN
- Johnstown-Altoona, PA
- Madison, WI
- Memphis, TN
- Milwaukee, WI
- Missoula, MT
- Mobile, Al-Pensacola, Fl
- Richmond, VA
- South Bend, IN
- Traverse City, MI
- Wausau, WI
- Wichita, KS

Q4 2003 Planned Launches (Subject to Change):
(Looks like alphabetical order to me - so doesn't mean one is before the other one):
- Chattanooga, TN
- Columbia, SC
- Ft. Smith, AR
- Greensboro, NC
- Jefferson City, Mo
- Lincoln, NE
- Savannah, GA
- Sherman, TX-Ada, OK
- Springfield, MO
- Tri-Cities, TN/VA

All this info came in a form of 3 separate Charts...

[Chris Freeland]

It looks like my source was at least partly correct several months ago when she told me that Chattanooga would be added to E* in the 4th quarter of this year. She also informed me Chattanooga was #63 on the list, it appears she was wrong in that regard. E* must of had E9 and 121 in mind for more locals several months ago, because Chattanooga is on the edge of a couple of spotbeams but not totally covered, I can almost guarantee we will be one of the markets that require the SuperDish for locals.

[Jacob S]

The good thing about the SuperDish is that you can take the dish anywhere in the U.S. and get your local channels. The bad news is that it is a bigger dish and little more expensive but your ready for HD and Dish will probably have a promotion that will help pay for the dish.

If a person were to point at just 121 or 105 whats the smallest dish a person can get away with using to get a signal in?

[razorbackfan]

Can't wait for Q4 WOO HOO! No more Cox cable to watch my locals!

[awax]

Amen razorbackfan, I just moved to Springdale from Little Rock and already hate Cox.

WPS

[edeclark]

I'm on the far North fringe of the Green Bay DMA and well outside of the only spotbeam that even comes close to covering Green Bay which is #11 on 119. However, in the last 3 or 4 days I've noticed a rising signal strength on TP 5 & 7.

Since GB is listed as being added by end of Q2 where will it likely show up? SuperDish isn't debuting until July and will probably be tested a month or two before being put into service. I guess its always possible they could add it to 61.5 but what's the most likely scenario? If they plan on adding the locals by the end of June I see only 3.

Add them to CONUS transponders on 110/119(not likely really is it?)

Add them to the #11 spotbeam and hope the signal strength is strong enough for the furthest Northern counties. This spotbeam already has Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, St. Louis & Chicago but cant a spotbeam carry channels for 5 markets? Also.....only 2 of the Chicago channels (WB & UPN) are carried on the spotbeam. The other 4 networks are carried nationally for Dish Nets.

[awax]

Chicago has alot more than WB and UPN on the spot beam, I think GB and some of the others will be on Conus but I don't know.

[edeclark]

Are you sure about Chicago?

I see:

239 - WGN (Superstation) on 119 CONUS
8490 - WLS on 110 CONUS
8491- WBBM on 110 CONUS
8492 - WMAQ on 110 CONUS
8493 - WFLD on 110 CONUS

8494 - WGN (WB) on 119 Spotbeam #11
8495 - WPWR (UPN) on 119 Spotbeam #11
oops....one more
8496 - WTTW (PBS) on 119 Spotbeam #11

8498, 8499, 8500, 8501, & 8503 (Univision, Telemundo, TeleFutura, PBS, Ind.) are all listed as being on 61.5.

Can anyone in the Chicago area confirm?

Thanks.

[jened]

Albany, NY info
I know there are several people along with myself who have inquired about Albany locals before so I thought I'd share what little I know. I wrote emails to the Albany, NY Station general managers and technical engineers and they basically don't know any more than we do about the timeline. They all have said it is up to the satellite providers and they are more than happy to be on satellite and don't anticipate any problems such as negotiations.

[awax]

Never mind edeclark you are right I wasn't thinking of the third sat with all the noname locals

[awax]

Does anyone have any info on Little Rock, AR, like what stations have reached agreements and which won't be carried etc.

[Darkman]

Q2 2003 Planned Launches (Subject to Change):

- Anchorage, AK
- Green Bay, WI
- Jackson, MS - available now
- Knoxwille, TN - uplinked - announced to be available May 22
- Little Rock, AR
- Roanoke, Va - uplinked
- Shrevenport, LA
- Tallahassee, FL - uplinked - announced to be available May 29
- Yakima, Wa

from the announced Q2 Locals Launch list - 4 out of 9 uplinked...

4 down, 5 to go :) (we'll see if at the end of Q2 "Subject to Change" will kick in) :)

[Jacob S]

Is there a way to find out which channels in your market is going to be added?

[razorbackfan]

Welcome to northwest Arkansas awax, hope you brought a jacket. I agree Cox here is awful, I live on the east side of town so OTA doesn't get anything, and the cable is so bad some of the channels are unwatchable. I can't wait for E* to carry our locals. I would hope they carry AETN, UATV, and JTN also.

[awax]

I live in Springdale and Fox and CBS are really bad on Cox. I get a good OTA on 51(nbc) and 29(abc) and AETN. Fox and CBS are impossible for me to get. Since I moved up here in April I miss channel 7 (KATV) out of Little Rock so I might be "moving" back soon. BTW razorbackfan I love it up here, I think I made a good decision relocating.

[Scott Greczkowski]

Thanks Darkman, I saw this information this weekend on the Dish Network Retailer Channel. Of couse it was all labeled "Subject to change" but its a very good roadmap. :)

[Darkman]

Q2 2003 Planned Launches (Subject to Change):

- Anchorage, AK
- Green Bay, WI
- Jackson, MS - available now
- Knoxwille, TN - available now
- Little Rock, AR
- Roanoke, Va - available now
- Shrevenport, LA
- Tallahassee, FL - uplinked - announced to be available May 29
- Yakima, Wa

Still - 4 down, 5 to go (with about 5 weeks left in Q2) :)

[Adam Richey]

It looks like Anchorage, AK will most likely fall into the "subject to change" category.

[Darkman]

hmm - i guess we ll have to wait and see :)

One would think though then - why would they mention it for Q2 - as recent as the last Retailer Chat, and even last Charlie Chat...

Will be interesting to see "how it will all play out" with Anchorage, AK :)

[AkShark]

I spoke with a local Audio/Video store owner (who seems to be always in the know) just this last Thursday. He said not one single local broadcaster has signed a agreement to retransmit with Dish. Based on that I am sure Anchorage is 'subject to change'

[shilton]

I am very surprised at Dish's handling of the whole locals process. They have announced my local market JOHNSTOWN/ALTOONA. In earlier emails, they told me an August launch. I had been in contact with many of my local broadcasters and was told as early as a month ago that Dish had not even tried to contact any of them to even begin talks for retransmission and worse yet, I have since learned from a broadcaster that once they chased down Dish and said "oh yes, we want you to carry us - lets get the process started", Dish told them that they are yet to have a tech visit the area to determine the logistics of retransmission and that they would get to them AFTER THEY GET SOME OF THE EARLIER PLANNED LAUNCHES UP AND RUNNING. Its almost June. One would think these things take longer then 2 months. In fact, a local CBS affiliate told me that the FCC requires a satellite broadcaster to notify locals at least 90 days in advance if they are planning to carry a city. Dish had not done that as of just a few weeks ago...but then again they have already told the broadcaster that they now don't see a launch until the end of 3rd to early 4th quarter (say maybe October). Given the number of locals they are trying to launch and the apparent lack of planning that goes into them, I BET A LOT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE from Dish's perspective. I am glad they are going to carry my city, but I cannot believe that they are dragging their feet so much whenever the broadcasters are trying to call them saying "oh yes...let's do it". All I have to say is that whenever we do launch, we better not be missing anything since I KNOW ALL THE AFFILIATES ARE DYING TO GET UP ON THE BIRD.

[Darkman]

AkShark - hehe - i hear you :)

shilton - hehe - according to the above "launch plans" - they got until end of Sept to "do you" :)

[Jacob S]

This really makes me wonder. I figured the local channels would have something up on their website too about being carried on the satellite systems but they do not, none of them that I see for my area.

[Darkman]

looks like maybe do not really give a "chit" about the issue :)

[jerryez]

Cox cable in my area was going to add HD in March, then April, then May, and now ?. So why should Dish be any different?

[Darkman]

hmm - strange (cuz Q3 one) - but i think Richmond, VA is in Testing (or uplinked or something like that) now...
Not available to "mere mortals" of course (if available at all)

They should be somewhere at 9941-9946 (EPG), 6 channels,
But strange thing - for now they are showing - i think - at 148 (all of them), some strange tp 14 (maybe... that maybe also looks like Spot TP)...I could be wrong of course or inaccurate of some of the above info... - however some of it (or even all) - maybe is true :)

[JohnH]

No signal on that TP.
Channels are supposedly there, but.

[Darkman]

right - that is what i ment - No signal - or a spot that one cannot get (or something like that)...

just like those 24 Test channels at 148 (12 - tp 18, and 12 - tp 20)
- 9951-9974 i think (or something)...
But at least those 6 ones have an EPG names ( unlike Test ones :) )

ch 9941 - WRIC - 148, tp 14 (spot or dead??)
ch 9942 - WTVR - 148, tp 14 (spot or dead??)
ch 9943 - WRLH - 148, tp 14 (spot or dead??)
ch 9944 - WWBT - 148, tp 14 (spot or dead??)
ch 9945 - WCVE - 148, tp 14 (spot or dead??)
ch 9946 - WUPV - 148, tp 14 (spot or dead??)

[Jacob S]

It is different that they are not going to offer the HD locals because they take up so much more room and they do not have the capacity yet to do that many local cities. Dish and Direct are still working on getting the analog channels up.

[jeffwtux]

Jacob: The local channels Dish and Direct provides aren't analog. They just aren't HDTV. The FCC really needs to clarify this mandate. They have everybody know equating digital broadcasts to HDTV, and that isn't the case. THey really made themselves look stupid here.

[chessmaster1010]

What Jacob meant is that the local channels that Dish/Direct TV provide are the analog broadcast channels; and the local digital channels are not on DBS (yet). I'm sure he knows that all DBS channels are delivered digitally.

[Jacob S]

Yes, I do know that DBS stands for Digital Broadcasting System. I meant the source is analog and the end result from the satellite receiver is analog. They are still working on getting the original analog sources all up and by the time they do go up it will be time to do it all digital. Since all analog feeds are going to be shut off in 2006 or 2007 that means there would be a lack of space on the satellite for all of those digital stations since they take up so much more room. Perhaps by then there will be compression improvements even further and more spot beaming technology and more room allowed by FCC to provide those channels. It would not be good if they had to start all over due to space in which is the problem they had before and now not being able to carry all the locals markets. It would be dejavoo.

[AkShark]

I just heard through the grapevine that some high level meetings were taking place this week with local broadcast executives and DBS representatives.

Maybe Anchorage is not that far off!!

[Darkman]

Well - Anchorage was Q2 local market after all...
Maybe they can still keep it on schedule :)

[sbturner]

Hey Darkman, the Tallahassee locals are on 110, do you think they will stay there or is there a chance they will change and require another dish? Also the FOX and UPN stations are owned by Pegasus, and they don't have rebroadcast rights yet. Is there a problem with other Pegasus owned stations?

[Darkman]

i got no clue ( after all i am not Dish ) :)

[gor88]

sbturner,

As far as other troubles with Pegasus stations, there are rebroadcast rights issues.

Dish Network recently added Jackson, MS locals. However, there has been a sticking point regarding the two local Pegasus stations. WDBD (WB) and WXMS-LP (UPN) are not carried. At first, I understood it to be the issue of Dish saying "we won't carry the UPN affiliate b/c it is low power". Pegasus made it an all or none deal and Dish said OK. Now, Dish is saying it is in negotiations to carry both (probably b/c DirecTV also added Jackson recently and has ALL the major Jackson affiliates). Seems to me that Pegasus is now holding out for more money from Dish. There is a sale pending to sell these stations to a Mississippi based company, but it is far from complete.

I have also heard about headaches getting other Pegasus affiliates on DBS as well. The best way to counter that is to find out who the primary local advertisers are and write each of them a letter informing them that 15-20% (or whatever % makes up satellite viewers in your market) do not get to see your commercials on W***, possibly due to hardheadedness by Pegasus and to please demand that W*** be added to the locals of E* to make sure he gets full coverage for his advertising dollar.

If enough sponsors complain, Pegasus will probably make concessions to keep the sponsors happy.

The whole mess is silly, but hang in there. The rebroadcast rights will come. You just might have to make some noise to get the ball rolling.

[awax]

This Allbritton dispute doesn't help me in getting Little Rock, AR on, as ABC(KATV) is owned by them.

[ARKDTVfan]

Originally posted by awax
This Allbritton dispute doesn't help me in getting Little Rock, AR on, as ABC(KATV) is owned by them. well you won't be able to get any of the LR channels anyway because Sprinddale is in the Ft Smith/Fayetteville/Springdale DMA

[awax]

Its funny you should say that, I may be getting a little homesick and "move" back to my old place.

[edeclark]

Yes I know the feeling awax. I'm in Florence, Co. Wisconsin and feel the same way about moving back in with mom in Marinette, Co. She's 10 miles away but I miss her so darn much......

[awax]

Talked to General Manager Dale Nicholson of KATV who assured me that KATV would be carried no matter the dispute with Allbritton. A quote "KATV has been the leader in news weather and sports in Arkansas for decades, we have one of the most watched local newscasts in America and are the home of the Razorbacks. It would be foolish for us and not fair to our sponsors to in any way keep Arkansans from watching our programming." He also said that E* says June 26 is the turn on date for Little Rock locals and that the NBC affiliate KARK is still holding out but everyone else seems to be onboard. I have also talked to a couple of retailers and they same the same thing.

[Ronmort]

I wonder what happened to the Wilkes-Barre, PA locals which were announced just a few weeks ago for later this year.

[Darkman]

Ronmort - hmmm - check the first page of this thread - i do not see that one among Q2, Q3, Q4 scheduled markets for this year...

[shilton]

Originally posted by Ronmort
I wonder what happened to the Wilkes-Barre, PA locals which were announced just a few weeks ago for later this year.
My guess is that it was bypassed for Johnstown Altoona which thrills me since that is MY DMA! But seriously, It looks to me as if the trend is for Dish to steer clear of markets that DirectTV has announced and that is probably a good move. Let's face it, neither company can serve all of America at least not yet, so if they make sure not to duplicate cities, each gets a nice strong piece of the pie. DirecTV got to Wilkes-Barre first (at least its coming sooner), so Dish forgot about them. Not a bad idea.

[TNGTony]

Scranton/Wilkes Barre is listed in the press release though. Take a look at the bottom of http://ekb.dbstalk.com/19

Hmmmm....

See ya
Tony

[Darkman]

Tony - isn't that press release older then latest Q2, Q3, Q4 release for planned launches ( Subject to change :) ) ?

If so, then maybe "latest Q2, Q3, Q4 release for planned launches" is a New Road Map

But who knows - maybe they ll "squize in" few surprises "here and there" also (even though i would not count on that too much, as it looks that they ll have their "hands full" with the New Road Map (as it is)) :)

[New Anchorage Guy]

Regarding Anchorage Locals... I spoke to one Station Manager at length about this (ABC). He said that Dish blew into town last June on the way to a fishing trip and they haven't heard from them since. His big thing is that since they get consideration from the local cable company, it wouldn't be fair to "give away" his signal to Dish. The station manager from KTUU (NBC) e-mailed and said basically the same thing.

[AkShark]

Re: Anchorage

Just heard from a local Dish retailer. They said local meetings were completed this week! Expect to be onboard mid summer!!

[Darkman]

hehe - Mid-summer = a bit after end of Q2 (June 30th) :)
Then "Subject to change" will kick in i guess...

Unless they can do it before June 30th or right on June 30th (mid summer could easily pass for June 30 as well i guess) :)

[TNGTony]

Darkman...Q2 in businesses is actually a month behind a calander year. May1-July31 is Q2.

See ya
Tony

[Darkman]

hmm - interesting...

Tony - is that really so? (or you trying to "pull my leg"?) :)

If so - all this time - i was thinking "1 month off" :(

[Tomsoundman]

Tony, a business can setup any day they want for a quarter, year, etc.

[Darkman]

hehe - fiscal then :)

(but i think Tony was more referring to a termin: "Q" - which is usually associated with reporting about company (that effects company's stock, etc) :)

[TNGTony]

Thanks Tom. But I'm pretty sure that Echostar has their Fiscal quarters one month behind the calandar year. I haven't checked (because I am lazy :)) But I remember that they release all their quarterly info a month and a hald behind the calandar year.

See ya
Tony

[Msguy]

Reading earlier posts about Chicago. shouldn't there be a WCIU Channel 26 on there also? or is that channel carried on satellite. This Channel should carry Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox games on them sometimes.

[Greg Bimson]

Try this (http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030506/65319_1.html) press release regarding first quarter.

First quarter ended March 31, 2003. Therefore, they are running standard, calendar year, fiscal quarters. Who knows why it takes five weeks after quarter end for Echostar to release their financials?

[edeclark]

I just assumed 2Q meant calendar year. Not many people know when Dish's fiscal year ends so I still think when they said 2Q during a CUSTOMER call-in chat they meant by 6/30 because how many Dish customers would know it meant 7/31 to Dish?

[Darkman]

ya - i assumed 6/30 as well...

who knows - maybe i was "on the right track" after all :)

[TopCat99]

OK, riddle me this one, Batman. I have the Pittsburgh locals now. I want Johnstown-Altoona locals when they launch. I *can* get them (well, two of them) along with Pittsburgh thru the local cableco. Will dish give me J-A too?

I'm not sure how this would work out under must-carry, either, if I could do both. For instance, Pitt WPXI is NBC as is J-A WJAC. And WPGH is FOX like WWCP. You get the idea.

If it helps, the local cablecos (as I mentioned) carry Pitt and J-A locals. And stations from both DMAs are easily picked up with a wet noodle so I can't see it being that much of a stretch in that regard (that is, I'm essentially "in" both DMAs as far as reception is concerned)--although FCC rules and Dish may see it differently :(

[Jacob S]

It seems like there is an unfair advantage that the cable companies have over the satellite companies when it comes to offering more than one DMA in one area.

[edeclark]

Yes I agree and this must be a constant battle for the DBS providers. The most common example I read about is Baltimore/DC but even in my area its the case. Cable offers stations from 3 different markets. Marquette, MI Green Bay, WI & Rhinelander/Wausau, WI. I think a few systems offer channels from Madison & Milwaukee too.

[Jacob S]

This is the reason why some are going to remain on cable, because this is the only way for them the receive all of the stations they want, and also they can get high speed internet access in many areas. Cable does have some advantages over satellite if it is a good cable company. Another thing is that cable has some movie and mtv/vh1 suite channels that satellite does not have.

[edeclark]

Well I'm bad at decision making so fortunately I don't have to make one here. I'm outside of the cabled area so I don't have a choice. I have no major complaints with Dish....I just think it is definitely an unfair advantage to them when competing with cable. Congress should see that clear as day....

[Jacob S]

I am surprised that Charlie has not said anything about this to congress yet.

[TopCat99]

Just for s***s and giggles, I called Dish and asked about the extra DMA today. The CSR told me not only can't Dish do it, but she implied it's illegal for a cableco to do it.

In fact, when I told her that my cableco does--as well as at least four others around me--she told me I had to be mistaken and advised me to call them and I'd see that I'm wrong. I didn't bother telling her I work for one :rolleyes:

[Darkman]

I guess it is all "Subject to Change" for sure now (hehe - nice statement for Dishnet - good insurance) :)

First example - as per several announcements - 1 more Waco's Local channel should have appeared on June 18th... Do not think that happened...

Second Example:
Q2 2003 Planned Launches (Subject to Change):
- Anchorage, AK - not yet
- Green Bay, WI - not yet
- Jackson, MS - launched :)
- Knoxwille, TN - launched :)
- Little Rock, AR - not yet
- Roanoke, Va - launched :)
- Shrevenport, LA - not yet
- Tallahassee, FL - launched :)
- Yakima, Wa - not yet

5 more announced "Q2 Planned launches" local markets (Subject to change of course) are in the "not yet launched" state currently.
With 11 days (or so) left in the Standard Q2...

Of course if Dishnet however counting their Quarters differently - with 1 extra month added on (just as Tony suggested previously) then there is still 1 month and 11 days (or so) left... - More time to add more locals...

However - what happened then to Example One (above) - that 1 Waco's local was announced to be available on June 18th, and i do not even think "IT" was "Subject to Change"
:shrug:

[awax]

Darkman, what is the timer trick you were talking about to see if planned locals are in the guide?

[AkShark]

Originally posted by Darkman
I guess it is all "Subject to Change" for sure now (hehe - nice statement for Dishnet - good insurance) :)

First example - as per several announcements - 1 more Waco's Local channel should have appeared on June 18th... Do not think that happened...

Second Example:
Q2 2003 Planned Launches (Subject to Change):
- Anchorage, AK - not yet

"Subject to Change"
"Subject to Change"
"Subject to Change"
"Subject to Change"
"Subject to Change"


Anchorage Local Dish Retailer now says September, somehow tied to Network premiers??


Its been 18 months now since I signed on with dish with the promise of locals being available next month, next month, ect....

Well next month I am bailing out,






:shrug:

[Darkman]

Originally posted by awax
Darkman, what is the timer trick you were talking about to see if planned locals are in the guide?

Hey Mate, not sure what you are talking about - hehe...
hmm - timer :) ??

In any case i ve spoken too soon, or Dish just needed a "little push", cuz since i ve spoken:

The reports are that Green Bay, WI and Shrevenport got uplinked (9300s channel range and 7000s channel range - respectedly)
More likely not available to the "mere mortal" subscriber as of yet..

In any case - the ball looks like rolling somewhat - so "not yet" ones - instead of 5, now just 3 :)

And - promissed Waco local channel didn't get added (still) :rolleyes:

[Darkman]

Have faith AkShark - they should be coming soon :)

(Sooner or Later anyhow) :)

[razorbackfan]

Q4 2003 Planned Launches (Subject to Change):
(Looks like alphabetical order to me - so doesn't mean one is before the other one):
- Chattanooga, TN
- Columbia, SC
- Ft. Smith, AR
- Greensboro, NC
- Jefferson City, Mo
- Lincoln, NE
- Savannah, GA
- Sherman, TX-Ada, OK
- Springfield, MO
- Tri-Cities, TN/VA

Sooooooooo I called Dish and talked to a CSR wanting to get the 2nd dish antenna. She said "You don't need one, the antenna you have now will get your locals, anyway if you do need a 2nd antenna, we can't install one until your locals are actually on the air."

HUH????????????????????

[Bobby94928]

[b]Q4 2003 Planned Launches (Subject to Change):
- Ft. Smith, AR

Sooooooooo I called Dish and talked to a CSR wanting to get the 2nd dish antenna. She said "You don't need one, the antenna you have now will get your locals, anyway if you do need a 2nd antenna, we can't install one until your locals are actually on the air."

HUH????????????????????

There is a possibility that all of your Ft. Smith locals will be on 110/119. In that case there is no need for the wing dish. If they need to put any of your locals on the wing, 61.5, they will install that dish for free, otherwise you will have to pay for the dish and the install.

[Darkman]

That's correct - only makes sense - that they will not give one Free Side dish (61.5 or 148) - until it is applicable (until the local market is in place and available to subscribers, and then ONLY if any of the Local Market's channels are located on a Side Satellite (61.5 or 148)

Or one can get a free dish also (i think), besides 61.5 and 148, if the Local Market is Philladelphia, (this Local Market is located at 129 Location and available to subscribers already, but not applicable to you anyhow ( looks like - cuz you are not in ...delphia :) )

[razorbackfan]

I have a friend who lives in Philadelphia though...

[SParker]

I was talking to the engineer from a Traverse City, MI local about a unrelated issue (I don't live in there DMA). He said Echostar wants them live in August.

[crkeehn]

topcat99 stated:

In fact, when I told her that my cableco does--as well as at least four others around me--she told me I had to be mistaken and advised me to call them and I'd see that I'm wrong. I didn't bother telling her I work for one

You are fortunate. Comcast has the Baltimore Washington area pretty much sewn up. They are eliminating the multiple DMA locals. If you live in the Washington DMA they are now only providing the Washington Locals