Distant networks in Mississippi

[rebel82]

I've just switched over to directtv from dish after the locals were added to the Columbus-Tupelo DMA. Has anyone been able to add any NY/LA distant feeds since this. I have two homes, one in zipcode 38843 (grade a area) which I asked for waivers which have been denied so far and one in zip code 35876 which was a grade b (at least for Dish, so I received distant feeds). If i ask for waivers for the 35876 address will I have any success or is it not
possible now. I do miss those west coast feeds. Additionally I was wondering if anyone has any info about the UPN station from
Columbus, Ms (right now it is cable only), and if it might be added to our local lineup in the future along with a WB that is cable only
as well.

[Curtis0620]

With a PVR, who needs west coast feeds?

[gor88]

rebel82,

You will not be receiving the UPN station on WCBI Digital 35 Subchannel 2 on D*. If you visit the www.wcbi.com site, they state that it would be cost-prohibitive to send the digital signal for UPN. Sad, but true.

[rebel82]

The funny thing is on that is that they still have the very same statement on their WCBI CBS site that unfortunately 'WCBI being
on DSS will not be real soon'. However it went on this month.
Their UPN program schedule was last updated thru 12/07/02 so it does not seem to dependable. I am going to ask the question through their website.

[spanishannouncetable]

...I have two homes, one in zipcode 38843 (grade a area) which I asked for waivers which have been denied so far and one in zip code 35876 which was a grade b (at least for Dish, so I received distant feeds). If i ask for waivers for the 35876 address will I have any success or is it not
possible now. I do miss those west coast feeds...

If the 35867 address was inside the grade B contour, you shouldn't have been receiving distants from Dish Network. You are supposed to be BELOW grade B (grades c - z, I guess) to qualify.

There is nothing to prevent you from calling Directv and asking for the distants - the law allows you to have them along with your locals if you qualify. It's free, and any nets you qualify for without waivers are added on the spot. They will automatically apply for any waivers you need (good luck getting one now).

[spanishannouncetable]

With a PVR, who needs west coast feeds?

Ever have a show killed by rain fade ?
It's nice to have another chance at it 3 hours later.

Ever get annoyed by weather reports that take up 1/4 of the screen ?
Wherever you are, the weather is unlikely to be as bad 1000+ miles away.

Ever have a favorite show blacked out for some game or local event you cared nothing about ?
NY & LA channels are O&O'ed by the networks, and pre-emptions are very rare.

Live on the west coast ?
Watch your friends turn green with envy whenever you watch something 3 hours before they do.

Ever get tired of The Simpsons ?
I don't, and I can watch 7 episodes a day :D

[Rebel82]

I received an email from the general manager of WCBI, the station that controls the UPN 30 station and he said it was his understanding that Directtv does not have to carry UPN30 if they
choose not to. He said they were very interested in it being carried if Directtv would show any interest in it.
I thought there were some 'must-carry' rules on some stations but maybe that does not apply to a UPN or WB since they are not a 'major' network.
It seems that maybe WCBI should pressure Directtv a little more than they are doing. He didn't seem to indicate that the holdup was on his end. But maybe they want Directtv to carry all the costs of such a setup.
I emailed Directtv but got what seemed to be a 'canned' response
saying basically nothing.
Perhaps if our other NE MIss viewers would make their presence known by contacting Directtv they might begin to listen.
I guess WCBI might have not used their leverage to their advantage to get their 2nd station on at the beginning of Directtv
service in the area.

[gor88]

Must carry rules only apply to major networks(which are CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX). WB and UPN do not have enough audience yet to qualify as a major net. However, I will predict that WB will reach that status within the next three years.

The web site claimed that sending a digital station to D* was too expensive. It is possible that WCBI is asking too much to broadcast it. The best way to counter it is to find out who advertises on that UPN station and tell them they are losing audience and demand a reduction of ad fees. Sending emails to WCBI and D* should also help. If enough people demand it, WCBI and D* will find a way to carry it.

This will be a problem in other markets in Mississippi, particularly Greenwood-Greenville and Meridian. They also have digital only stations broadcasting UPN Mississippi. They may not get UPN either whenever they come online.

E* subscribers just got WB in Jackson on the 23rd, two months after locals became available. Jackson E* subscribers still don't have the low power UPN in Jackson, even though D* carries it. However, E* is supposedly negotiating to get it added.

D* should add one distant WB and one distant UPN station for local markets without them. The subscriber should be able to choose from the available "superstations" list. This would further help D* leap ahead of E* in the locals race.

[Greg Bimson]

DirecTV is carrying a digital-only WB station in Roanoke, Virginia, which is controlled by the company that owns the Fox affiliate.

The question is, will WCBI and DirecTV come to terms to allow rebroadcast of the UPN programming on DirecTV? I'd suggest putting the pressure on WCBI. They are the ones stating it is cost prohibitive. WCBI should have tied carriage of their UPN station with their analog CBS station, exactly how the owners of the Jackson WB station were able to force their low-power UPN station on DirecTV's lineup.

[Mike Richardson]

Must carry rules only apply to major networks(which are CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX).
Complete rubbish. Any high-power, American, licensed FCC station may demand must carry if they provide a good quality signal to the DBS provider and do not demand any fees whatsoever. This includes junky little independant stations.

[changeme]

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