Northwest "outage" and Satellite beams

[Laxguy]

A month long standoff between DirecTV and Northwest Broadcasting Co. continues even as Super Bowl XLV looms this weekend.

From the Mail Tribune- Full article (http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110201/BIZ/102010316)


"The impasse has left most DirecTV customers in Southern Oregon, Northern California, parts of eastern Washington and upstate New York without FOX network programming since the carriage agreement between the television stations' owner and the satellite television operator expired at the end of 2010.

About 30,000 DirecTV customers in the region served by KMVU in Medford have resorted to rabbit ears antennas or other means to follow NFL playoff games, American Idol and other FOX programming during the interlude. Some have obtained distant network signals, but many aren't eligible for the alternate transmission.

DirecTV spokesman Robert Mercer said the satellite company has called for Northwest Broadcasting stations to restore the signal that went blank a month ago."

What might prevent a sat. broadcaster to beam another channel carrying the SB to these folks?

Also, the article goes on to say the two top NW execs are headed to Washington to visit Congresspersons......

[BattleZone]

Some have obtained distant network signals, but many aren't eligible for the alternate transmission.<snip>

What might prevent a sat. broadcaster to beam another channel carrying the SB to these folks?

The law prevents it. The FCC has rules governing the circumstances that a customer can receive Distant Network programming. As the article you quoted correctly states, most customers aren't eligable, and DirecTV can't legally "just turn it on", Superbowl or not.

[SayWhat?]

So, what about all those folks that bailed from Dish and went to Direct a while back over similar disputes?

[Laxguy]

The law prevents it. The FCC has rules governing the circumstances that a customer can receive Distant Network programming. As the article you quoted correctly states, most customers aren't eligable, and DirecTV can't legally "just turn it on", Superbowl or not.

Ah, yes, that info was somewhere deep in a pocket of crinkly gray matter, but was inaccessible till you answered.

The FCC rules are presumably to prevent locals from being pushed out by deep pocket nationals, then?

[Laxguy]

So, what about all those folks that bailed from Dish and went to Direct a while back over similar disputes?

Perhaps they're momentarily sorry for the reaction, but I'm pretty sure it'll be straightened out *soon*.

"Trust me" isn't a location!:)

[LarryFlowers]

Being restored as we post!

[Laxguy]

Being restored as we post!

I'm glad to hear that for the sake of those in the affected areas.. Are you in 'Lanna full time- or are you in an another area served by them?

And are you politically correct, or an adherent of Windows OSes?