WJLA (Wash D.C. - ABC) off the air at midnight?

[Keith]

Just heard on the local ABC news station that Dish was pulling their feed at midnight over a dispute about Dish sending the NYC ABC channel into their broadcasting area.

Does anyone have any additional info about this?

[jhall]

well, since it is now Wednesday, WJLA is still uplinked, and available to subs, so either the sorted out their issues or they mean midnighttonight.

[Cyclone]

Where did you hear about this?

[Brett]

Originally posted by Keith
Just heard on the local ABC news station that Dish was pulling their feed at midnight over a dispute about Dish sending the NYC ABC channel into their broadcasting area.

Does anyone have any additional info about this?

I also heard Scripps' WMAR 2 from Baltimore was sending their signal into Allbritton's WJLA's broadcasting area.

[Geronimo]

DISH does not cary the Baltimore locals at all. I think there is some miscommunication here.

[jhall]

What is going on? WMAR was SIMO WABC?

[Geronimo]

I assume we can attribute this to rumor. What does SIMO WABC mean?

[Pete K.]

I'm sure jhall means "simulcasting WABC."
This is not about a simulcast but the ability
of some E* viewers to receive WABC
via Dish in the market served by an
ABC network affiliate.

[Geronimo]

I guess I did not make myself clear. I was still receiving WJLA well after midnight---though I did not check this AM. The Baltimore stations are not on DISH at all (though their broadcast signal extends well into the Washington DMA)---even in Baltimore. So I am assuming that this whole thread is based on a misunderstanding.

[dmodemd]

Not a misunderstanding...

On WJLA's 6pm new broadcast last night they announced that Dish would drop them last night at midnight because WJLA was protesting the fact that Dish was allowing WABC (NY) into the market area. I dont know any more than that or why Dish was dropping if WJLA had the argument. WJLA stated they would still be available on other providers or over the air.

As of this morning they were still on Dish.

[Geronimo]

I apologize for my apparently misplaced skepticism. I have tried to call both DISH and WJLA and no one I could get by phone claimed any knowledge of this. But I trust the fellow forum members. I can't see where a shut off helps anyone but sometimes these things proceed in odd ways.

[Cyclone]

I can get WJLA OTA via my 6000, but to tell you the truth, WMAR in Balitmore has DD5.1 and WJLA doesn't. So I'm hard pressed to see its on Dish or not. My receiver a 4900 needs the locals otherwise I'd drop them.

Still, I be they are complaining about someone out in the very fringes of their DMA (who likely can't even receive their OTA broadast) and Dish sells them distant networks.

[Geronimo]

Not sure what you are saying about WMAR but DISH does not carry Baltimore locals.

[Cyclone]

FYI: WJLA is on Dish Network ok right now. I don't know if they where ever off the air.

About WMAR. Dish might not have Balitmore Locals right now. But they might have WMAR ready to send, and could substitute with it if needed.

[jhall]

it is highly doubtful they would add 5.1 if the SDTV channel is uplinked. Of course I'm all for it and would champion anybody who tried to lobby for it. I'm almost positive that WPIX, KWGN, KTLA, WSBK, and WWOR would transmit DD5.1, I think Washington locals do but those streams aren't given to us on the bird. I know I know, bandwidth constraints.

[JohnH]

DD 5.1 will not be added to any analog OTA feed on DBS. The timing problems would be extremely difficult to correct.

WMAR cannot be imported into the DC market except to "White Area" subs. It is considered a Distant Net there and WJLA is not about to offer a waiver.

[Geronimo]

I received a call back from WJLA. They claim that no such announcement was made. I do not know but they are still on DISH. So I am rather confused.

As for substituting a Baltimore station "if needed" I don't understand. I don't believe that it is allowed under SHVIA.

WJLA did tell me that there are problems with their fiber feed to DirecTV. That COULD mean a disruption in service to that provider in the future. I cannot give you any more detail than that that is all WJLA told me.

[Yari]

Seems it is true as WJLA is now off the air on Dish.

[Cyclone]

Yeah, it sure is gone. I wonder who has the fuller bladder in this contest.

[Darkman]

Yup it is gone for subscribers...
But reported the channel is still technically there (just not available to "mere-mortal" Subscriber)
Also reported the channel to have on EPG: "Impt Update by DISH Network CEO"
And further (the "info"): Allbritton Pulled the Plug on ABC in Washington, D.C. Tune in to see what DISH Network and you can do to get your local ABC station back on the air."

[Mark Holtz]

I'm a subscriber from outside the Washinton area, so technically, I shouldn't care.

HOWEVER, look at the timing:
* Sweeps ended on Wednesday of last week, so most of the programming is reruns. If anyone is going to notice the missing programming the most, it will be the people watching the soaps.
* If the plug was pulled, it was pulled after 5 PM PT, when most of the PR people have left for the weekend. This leaves even the CSRs out of the loop.

The only thing that I could find is that Cox and Allbritton Communications played hardball in late 2001, and ended up signing a ten year carriage deal. It also appears that Allbritton is not a publically traded company, thus no stock symbol and no corresponding news. :shrug:

[Geronimo]

OBviously WJLA Did not tell me the truth.

[Richard King]

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15629

[Geronimo]

Amazing how one threrad preempts another.

[Richard King]

Sorry, Geronimo, I started the other thread because it refers to more than the one station, although WJLA is included.

[Darkman]

Off topic - how come forums's time (of posted msg) is 1 hour ahead for me?

It just started today - my settings in Preferences haven't changed though...
Maybe Forum's time has to be adjusted :)

[edit] - test: i think time is OK now :)

[Geronimo]

Not a criticism RKIng just an observation. The thread you atarted is loaded with useful info.