CrankyYankee
08-14-03, 08:13 PM
WCAX, Channel 3, Burlington, VT aired the following story on how some Vermonters can't get Vermont channels, because they live in a part of the state considered to be part of the Boston TV market. It should be noted that the woman featured in this story appeared to have a subscription for DirecTV. (The following is from the news script of the broadcast on Thurs 14 Aug 03).
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For years people with satellite dishes have complained that they can't access their local television stations. Recent changes have allowed subscribers of some systems to get local channels .. but in southern Vermont .. that means they get stations from Boston -- not Burlington. A group of people in Windham County is trying to change that. Kate Duffy has the story.
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Lydia Pope France is a Vermonter. Her address says Vermont. Her tax bills say Vermont. But her television suggests .. she's in Boston. (17:04)((CBS from Boston..)) The F-C-C identifies Windham County as part of the Boston television market. Changing that .. is not as easy as changing the channels. Lydia has a satellite dish because mountainous geography means she can't get television off an antenna. ((1:17)((In windham it's dirt roads, no cable anytime soon, satellite our only way of getting reliable reception.)) That means she sees no Vermont advertising .. no Vermont news .. and no Vermont weather forecasts. She says last week's devastating storms are proof that people NEED local channels. (5:24-35)((I didn't have a clue until somebody came over and said you wouldn't believe what's going on on the other end of town, it looks like an earthquake struck it. wouldn't it be nice if i could turn on the news at 6:00 and see it?)) Lydia has written dozens of letters hoping to change that. What frustrates her is that people just a few miles away .. but in Windsor County .. CAN get Vermont TV stations on their satellite systems. (10:38-53)((It's not that they're unwilling to give it to us, it's illegal. Everything is in place. If you live a certain point on Rt. 11, you'd be entitled to get it because you live across the Chester line.)) (9:14-16)((What I understand is it's going to take an act of Congress to change this.)) (22:08-14 Kate Duffy/Windham)((So now lydia and her neighbors are hoping Vermon'ts congressional delegation can do something about it.)) ((INSERT LEAHY BITE)) (5:49-5:56 Sen. Patrick Leahy/D-VT)((If it's down to windham county, they're almost down to the bottom of the footprint and I don't know the answer to that.)) But Lydia says .. she'll keep trying. (4:43-51)((There's things about safety, keeping current, just being part of a community and TV is all about community.)) A community she wants to be a part of -- in Vermont. Kate Duffy, Channel 3 News, Windham.
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Viewers in Bennington County have a similar problem--they are considered in the Albany Television market. About half the households in Vermont are satellite subscribers -- the most of any state in the nation.
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For years people with satellite dishes have complained that they can't access their local television stations. Recent changes have allowed subscribers of some systems to get local channels .. but in southern Vermont .. that means they get stations from Boston -- not Burlington. A group of people in Windham County is trying to change that. Kate Duffy has the story.
16} SATTV_PKG
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Lydia Pope France is a Vermonter. Her address says Vermont. Her tax bills say Vermont. But her television suggests .. she's in Boston. (17:04)((CBS from Boston..)) The F-C-C identifies Windham County as part of the Boston television market. Changing that .. is not as easy as changing the channels. Lydia has a satellite dish because mountainous geography means she can't get television off an antenna. ((1:17)((In windham it's dirt roads, no cable anytime soon, satellite our only way of getting reliable reception.)) That means she sees no Vermont advertising .. no Vermont news .. and no Vermont weather forecasts. She says last week's devastating storms are proof that people NEED local channels. (5:24-35)((I didn't have a clue until somebody came over and said you wouldn't believe what's going on on the other end of town, it looks like an earthquake struck it. wouldn't it be nice if i could turn on the news at 6:00 and see it?)) Lydia has written dozens of letters hoping to change that. What frustrates her is that people just a few miles away .. but in Windsor County .. CAN get Vermont TV stations on their satellite systems. (10:38-53)((It's not that they're unwilling to give it to us, it's illegal. Everything is in place. If you live a certain point on Rt. 11, you'd be entitled to get it because you live across the Chester line.)) (9:14-16)((What I understand is it's going to take an act of Congress to change this.)) (22:08-14 Kate Duffy/Windham)((So now lydia and her neighbors are hoping Vermon'ts congressional delegation can do something about it.)) ((INSERT LEAHY BITE)) (5:49-5:56 Sen. Patrick Leahy/D-VT)((If it's down to windham county, they're almost down to the bottom of the footprint and I don't know the answer to that.)) But Lydia says .. she'll keep trying. (4:43-51)((There's things about safety, keeping current, just being part of a community and TV is all about community.)) A community she wants to be a part of -- in Vermont. Kate Duffy, Channel 3 News, Windham.
17} SATTV_TAG
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Viewers in Bennington County have a similar problem--they are considered in the Albany Television market. About half the households in Vermont are satellite subscribers -- the most of any state in the nation.