Did DirecTV move ALL locals to new spot beam?

Was wondering if anyone knows if the pre Dec 27th locals on DirecTV 1S 2 and 3 are still on the broadbeam and NOT on the new 4S spot beam satellite?

Thanks,
Jim

I believe some L.A. locals (KTLA and KCOP) are still on CONUS transponders due to lack of room on the spots. Several Miami hackers were bragging they still had them. Dunno about other areas though.

With all the new locals added onto DirecTV 4S...you would wonder if it would make sense to leave the major locals (minus WB and UPN) on the broadbeam 1S,2, and 3...

Why would they free up about 120 channels/spaces so they could cram them onto 4S??

If they plan to add more cities...wouldn't they want to keep as much space freed up on 4S as possible?

Jim

DirecTV was buttin' up against excessive compression on the CONUS transponders. By offloading exisitng locals onto the spot beam transponders of 4S, and placing as many new "must carry" locals on spots too, everything potentially ended up with more bandwidth. Remember, the primary advantage of spots is that they allow re-use of frequencies and polarities to different areas of the country - a "perfect" solution for the myriad of locals. And don't forget that 4S has some CONUS capability, too. I would be surprised if the few remaining locals on CONUS aren't loaded to spot beam transponders when 5S joins the fleet later this year. DirecTV hasn't made any public statements I'm aware of, but their increased transponder capacity would definitely allow for more HD programming.

I get NYC locals (I have a NYC address) in an area welloutside of NYC (300 miles). Does this mean that the only locals I'll get are from the CONUS (WCBS, WNBC, WNYW, and WABC?)? Or are they loaded on the spot beam as well....and will I get those signals from the 4S spot beam as well?

Thanks for your help!
Jim

The "spots" vary in rough diameter from 100 miles to 500 miles in some cases. When DirecTV's next satellite is launched, I wonder if they'll "tighten" up the focus.

Apparently, all 41 DMAs offered by DirecTV have been moved to the primary 101 satellite. (Go to SATELLITE DIRECT's web site).

Three new DMAs are being added -- but they will come from a secondary location -- and they are: Hartford, Connecticut; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Providence, Rhode Island.

DirecTV, reportedly, will complete its carriage of Discovery networks by adding Discovery Home & Leisure and Discovery Wings.

More CD-type audio music channels from Music Choice will be added.

And the big news is a change in pricing that will fold local channels prices into select packages. Family Pack channels are going to be added to the Total Choice lineup, and the designed "Family Pack" will disappear altogether.

This news comes from the Jan. 9, 2002 SATELLITE DIRECT web site.

I find it amazing that DirecTV can do all of Must carry plus carry all the core from one satelllite slot!

While Dish Network it took them 5 satellites to do the same thing! (yes 5!)

61.6
110
119
121 (For Philly)
148

AMAZING!

Scott