Low Power Local Stations and Distants

[nova828]

Ok I have a question...where I live in Bangor, Maine we have a FOX affilate, but it is a Low Power station that is a sister station to a full power ABC station. Do low power stations count against getting distant networks? Dish Network lets me get Fox distants without a waiver, even though I can pick up our local Fox clearly with rabbit ears. but DirecTV would not, according to thier website anyway. I wonder if its possible that Dish network does not know about the existence of a local FOX affilate here, since its only been on the air for about a year now. But why would Direct know about it then? Seems kinda strange to me. I hoping that I won't suddenly lose the 2 distant Fox channels, since they broadcast in stereo and actually show decent episodes of The Simpsons in syndication, where the local station is in Mono and shows the same crappy new episodes with horrible picture quality. So far in my search I can't find any mention if Low Power station count as a true local affilate or not.

[mattyro]

I would just be happy with my distants and wouldnt bring up the existence of ANYTHING that could blow your distants!! I really want to lower my Dish bill but I simply wont give up my 8 distant channels. Why?? Cuz getting them back may be close to impossible!! znew guidelines, new rules,lack of grandfathering,et al. I value them to much. I roll in at 10pm from work,have a bite,get relaxed and I am ready to watch prime time on all 4 networks. I would need 4 PVR's recording from 8p-11p to match that kind of convenience.

[TonyM]

Nova

Supposedly, they (Dish & Direct) take ALL stations into account, even if its a low powered or translator station.

Where I live, at the time I could get Minneapolis locals and distant FOX. About 15-20 miles NW of me, the Big 3 Duluth, MN stations have translator stations so people could pick up ABC, NBC & CBS. FOX built a translator and came online 1/1/03, yet neither Dish nor Direct have it on their list. Have had FOX from Denver & LA for over 2 years now.

If it does come up and they have to disco them, they will send you notification first.

[TonyM]

I would just be happy with my distants and wouldnt bring up the existence of ANYTHING that could blow your distants!! I really want to lower my Dish bill but I simply wont give up my 8 distant channels. Why?? Cuz getting them back may be close to impossible!! znew guidelines, new rules,lack of grandfathering,et al. I value them to much. I roll in at 10pm from work,have a bite,get relaxed and I am ready to watch prime time on all 4 networks. I would need 4 PVR's recording from 8p-11p to match that kind of convenience.

Exactly...
I have Minneapolis locals and FOX (via qualifying) and just moved to the Duluth DMA. I added Duluth via the website, and they never got rid of Mpls or FOX. I swapped receivers Friday and the guy said "as long as you had them before (them being Mpls), you can keep them or disconnect them but there would be a $5 charge"

Its nice having 2 sets of locals :)

[nova828]

Ok thanks everyone! Its nice having three different FOXs, even though one of them is off antenna, the rest I don't care about. So how does Dish Network and Direct find out about new network affilates? Does the affilate have to call them and let them know they are there? Or is it automatic through some database?

[Brett]

DecisionMark engineers keep updated information in their database on (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox) network affiliates (whether its low power translators or the actual full power station) grade B contours. DirecTV and Dish Network use DecisionMark's stations predicted contour areas for qualification purposes against an address, when a customer wants distants.

Read more about decisionmark here: http://ww2.decisionmark.com/techndata.html

Echostar and DirecTV periodically have to ensure their customers, if receiving distant locals, are legally qualified for those distants. When the CBS/Fox, etc. affiliate boards perceive there are too many customers buying distant networks, they go complaining to court claiming Echostar is infringing their copyrights. Echostar has had to shut off customers distant subscriptions (after auditing through their accts.) who may have qualified in the past for some reason, but are not anymore qualified.

[nova828]

One important thing to remember if you have distants and not suppose to (possibly):

If you ever get a nelson ratings book, remember to watch the local affilate for the time you are filling out the book whenever you watch that networks programming. It looks pretty bad when WNYW out of New York shows up in the local ratings for Bangor Maine or whereever, thats when local stations will crackdown on people with distants!

[Forgot to Sign In Again]

I too live inside the Bangor market (in central maine bordering the Portland market) and can recive both the Bangor and Portland Fox stations (the Portland Fox station comes in better than the Bangor NBC and ABC), I also can recive Maine Public Television (PBS) from the Portland market (more specifically WCBB Ch. 10 from Augusta)...any chance I could get either the (statewide) PBS network or the Portland Fox station since I get them better than a Grade B signal? something to think about...