It appears most will keep their distants

[tampa8]

http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=dish&script=410&layout=-6&item_id=421275

[FTA Michael]

Where do you read that in the press release? I read that of all "of EchoStar's customer base", 10 percent might lose distant networks. So what percentage of Dish customers currently receive distants?

Plus E* is appealing a decision against grandfathered distants. What happens during the appeal? Grandfathers in or out? (And this, just before Fathers Day.)

The great news is the reprieve from the possibility of losing all locals. But I can't tell whether the news is good for distant network viewers.

[-KEK-]

Here is some new info.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hollywoodreporter/frontpage/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1911306

[Mike123abc]

It is hard to say exactly how many will lose distants. Since most of the US now has LIL, they will likely recieve locals channels. I do not see this hurting Dish too much since the customers have no choice to go elsewhere. Dish will only hurt in markets it has to cut off where DirecTV has LIL and Dish does not.

[tampa8]

Carload, I have to say you make a good point. It would be more correct to say not as many will be affected by losing networks now that Dish is and will be in so many markets with LIL. How many will lose distants is more vague, and another whole question. In fact the Hollywood Reporter article does not sound as rosy. I guess the question to ask is - is the qualifier that is on the Dish site correct and accepted by the broadcast industry. If it is ok, you can check as always to see if you (still) qualify. That would mean there are some who do not qualify by that data base who are receiving distants and that is what the industry is fighting. If the whole data base is in question then all bets are off. Who knows who would still quialify.

[BobMurdoch]

Does this affect people who have waivers?

[tampa8]

Originally posted by BobMurdoch
Does this affect people who have waivers?

It seems to me those would be the least likely to be affected, unless they have to be obtained again.