DES MOINES LOCALS

[Eyedox]

Finally, DirecTV added the Des Moines, Iowa locals to their uplink on Friday. They include ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and PBS. WB is still holding out, but DISH Network doesn't have WB *OR* ABC.

[Msguy]

Some Markets may not carry all networks. UPN and WB seem to be held out alot for the more famous ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox. These channels are most watched and carry local news in most cities. I am in the local Memphis DMA and we don't even have a WB Station yet. We do however have UPN 30 WLMT

[ARKDTVfan]

It sure will be nice to have WB on DirecTV when my loclas are added very soon, I think that station KSHV "shares" UPN programing as well

[Msguy]

What would be nice is when every channel doesn't give the satellite companies such a hard time about allowing the broadcasts to be retransmitted through Direc TV and Dish.

[american_2000]

Hey Eyedox, I live in Des moines myself. I was hoping I could catch someone else around here. I noticed myself that Im getting locals on satellite but I have only a round dish. They (Directv) said we would need a multi-satellite dish. I also didn't subscribe to them. Its really goofy. Have you heard about that??

Mike

[gor88]

american_2000,

You and all other D* subscribers in the Des Moines TV market are receiving a free 30-day trial of the locals. As I understand it, D* will turn on locals for everybody for the first 30 days in a brand new locals market to lure existing subs into getting the locals via satellite. The free locals should disappear for Des Moines around July 12th.

As to the Multi-Sat dish, you don't need it now. You WILL NEED it later this year, when the DirecTV 7-S spotbeam sat is launched to the 119 position. Several of this year's new markets where D* says a Multi-Sat dish is needed are getting locals on the main 101 satellite. That bandwidth is being used for locals until the new spotbeam satellite is launched. After the 7-S is launched, the bandwidth will probably be used for other channels. The only exceptions for this year's new markets are Colorado Springs, CO (already active), Columbus, MS, and Columbia, SC. These locals will stay on existing spotbeams on the 101 satellite.

If you are thinking about getting the locals, you should check with D* about an upgrade. I think it is fairly cheap with a one-year commitment. You will probably want to "beat the rush" in upgrading your equipment.

I am in the Jackson, MS market, which got locals on May 13th. We get ours with a round dish now too, but that will change once the 7-S sat is up.

[Ira Lacher]

So they're free for only 30 days, huh?

After seeing the ad in the papers for the locals, including ABC, I called Direc and asked what they'd give me to switch from DISH (they offered the same new customer promo pack they offer any new customer). But they didn't tell me the locals would be free only for 30 days!

Anyway I did the math and learned that to get the same channels I was getting with DISH, and to get PVR service, with the TiVo subscription, it would cost less to stick with DISH. And that was before I discovered that I'd be paying for locals.

[american_2000]

Originally posted by gor88
american_2000,

You and all other D* subscribers in the Des Moines TV market are receiving a free 30-day trial of the locals. As I understand it, D* will turn on locals for everybody for the first 30 days in a brand new locals market to lure existing subs into getting the locals via satellite. The free locals should disappear for Des Moines around July 12th.

As to the Multi-Sat dish, you don't need it now. You WILL NEED it later this year, when the DirecTV 7-S spotbeam sat is launched to the 119 position. Several of this year's new markets where D* says a Multi-Sat dish is needed are getting locals on the main 101 satellite. That bandwidth is being used for locals until the new spotbeam satellite is launched. After the 7-S is launched, the bandwidth will probably be used for other channels. The only exceptions for this year's new markets are Colorado Springs, CO (already active), Columbus, MS, and Columbia, SC. These locals will stay on existing spotbeams on the 101 satellite.

If you are thinking about getting the locals, you should check with D* about an upgrade. I think it is fairly cheap with a one-year commitment. You will probably want to "beat the rush" in upgrading your equipment.

I am in the Jackson, MS market, which got locals on May 13th. We get ours with a round dish now too, but that will change once the 7-S sat is up.

Thanks for the info, gor88. I was thinking they would probably disappear eventually but I never got a notification about the free trial.  That does make sense. I have an antenna which works great, so don't really need to subscribe. It is pretty handy having locals and direct all on one input!

[Eyedox]

American 2k -
Hi ... I wanted to let you know that there is an HD Des Moines forum on AVS FORUM. See you neighbor.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=136822&highlight=des+moines

[american_2000]

Cool, thanks Eyedox!

[MikeP]

I've got a Sony B-65 and I seem to be losing CBS 8 and FOX 17 on my program guide. When I reset it, they come back, but disappear within a few minutes. They even disappear on the "all channels" list. Is this happening to anybody else? I'm trying to figure out if this is a DirecTV problem or if my receiver is bad.

Thanks.

[glrush]

I wish Cedar Rapids locals would get on DirecTV. I know they are on DISH, but CR was not announced as one of the cities that D* was gonna add when the new spot beam satellite goes up this fall.

Glenn