WB and UPN

[Link]

I don't know why Directv can't get the rights to use WPIX and WWOR from New York for WB and UPN feeds for viewers. In addition to being WB and UPN, both stations are superstations from the 5 along with KWGN, KTLA, and WSBK. They have been requesting these for years now and nothing gets done. Many markets that have local channels still don't have a WB or UPN channel on Directv to watch.

Plus its the one obstacle that keeps people from switching from Dish to Directv. If Directv, got the superstations, more HD all from one dish, they probably would gain even more customers.

[Geronimo]

Thyere are tons of threads on this. If you read them you will find that DirecTV can carry the superstatiosn today but has chosen not to.

Hang on until SHVIRa/SHVERA passes. THe WB and UPN amy be handled like the other networks. DTV is supposedly working on plans to launch affiliates of each and sell them to people in unserved areas.

Right now they CAN be carried everywhere but syndex claims can be an issue. In DISH's case they simply do not sell a particular superstation in a DMA where a local has claimed syndex. Since DirecTV does not carry them we do not know how they would handle this.

[Link]

Thyere are tons of threads on this. If you read them you will find that DirecTV can carry the superstatiosn today but has chosen not to.

Hang on until SHVIRa/SHVERA passes. THe WB and UPN amy be handled like the other networks. DTV is supposedly working on plans to launch affiliates of each and sell them to people in unserved areas.

Right now they CAN be carried everywhere but syndex claims can be an issue. In DISH's case they simply do not sell a particular superstation in a DMA where a local has claimed syndex. Since DirecTV does not carry them we do not know how they would handle this.

Yeah I remember reading something about syndex. KCOP UPN 13 in Los Angeles must claim this, because UPN stations are not available in the superstation package in the LA area.

As far as WB goes isn't there a national feed of WB that airs on some cable systems? It is sort of like Fox-Net is.

[brykc14]

As far as WB goes isn't there a national feed of WB that airs on some cable systems? It is sort of like Fox-Net is

Not anymore. WGN use to carry it, but for some reason stopped a few years ago.

[Jacob S]

Well its one thing to not carry the WB/UPN feed nationwide to the consumers but another thing when your market has a WB/UPN feed and they do not carry it. Thats a double whammy, whereas with Dish Network I can get it nationwide and with my locals package.

[SamC]

What Jacob S says. DirecTV's actions in this market are outrageous.

And, yes, there is a 100% syndex compliant WB feed that many cable systems in WB-less areas pick up, often adding in local community programming under a faux set of call letters. UPN likewise offers such a service.

[ssetta]

Actually, I think that DirecTV does offer a WB feed. I noticed that in the Bakersfield, CA market, there is no WB or PBS affiliate, but in that area, they offer both of the national feeds.

[jdspencer]

I got so frustrated with DirecTV's refusal to deliver WB and UPN as DNS I bought a Dish receiver just to get their Superstation Package.

[somebodywhoforgottosignin]

Not anymore. WGN use to carry it, but for some reason stopped a few years ago.


There is a national Fox feed, there is a national WB feed for those in markets 100+ (I believe they call it WB100+ and give it some call letters that have WB in them much like the PX call letters in most Pax stations) because a few years ago the WB decided to drop all stations affiliated with them markets 101 and up

[moedog]

Not anymore. WGN use to carry it, but for some reason stopped a few years ago.
On the contrary, there is a national WB cable channel--only available to systems below the top 100 DMAs. For some strange reason, the WB will not affiliate with stations below the top 100 DMAs. Time-Warner produces a virtual Tv station for cable systems in those areas. It is far superior to "Foxnet" which has to be one of the worst cable channels ever produced. Considering the poor quality of FOXnet, I would be leary of any virtual WB or UPN channels produced for Direct, since, of course, Rupport is behind Foxnet.

[Capmeister]

Really, lack of UPN/WB is just about the only thing keeping me from changing from Dish to DTV

[Geronimo]

Actually, I think that DirecTV does offer a WB feed. I noticed that in the Bakersfield, CA market, there is no WB or PBS affiliate, but in that area, they offer both of the national feeds.


That is the first time I ahve ever heard that reported.

[Capmeister]

That is the first time I ahve ever heard that reported.
I just emailed them last week and got a reply this week about UPN/WB feeds. They say only where they locally exist, via local channels, and when local stations open up or increase signal strength will they work to add them.

[Link]

Actually, I think that DirecTV does offer a WB feed. I noticed that in the Bakersfield, CA market, there is no WB or PBS affiliate, but in that area, they offer both of the national feeds.

You're right, Directv carries the KWFB2 national WB feed that cable does. At least that way they give you a WB feed with your locals. Dish makes you pay $1.50 extra.

[Capmeister]

You're right, Directv carries the KWFB2 national WB feed that cable does. At least that way they give you a WB feed with your locals. Dish makes you pay $1.50 extra.
Oh? They didn't tell me this. Why no UPN?

[Geronimo]

A natioanl PBS is available. Again I have never heard of DTV offereing the WB though. Why just in this area?

[jpurkey]

If DirecTV is not carrying WB and/or UPN in markets that have them then the stations themselves must be possibly responsible, maybe asking for too much money? I'd assume that all the stations have to do is ask for must carry and deliver an acceptable signal to DirecTV?

Both WB and UPN are available in the DC locals package, but other than Enterprise on UPN I seldom watch either.

[Geronimo]

People are discussing whether DirecTV is carrying a WB natioanl feed in at least one area that has no affiliate---namely Bakersfield, CA. No one has mentioned then NOT carrying the affiliates in area that have them.

[Greg Bimson]

I think the Bakersfield WB and PBS situation is a bit different.

Bakersfield does not have a PBS station. Therefore, the PBS-X feed may be used.

The Bakersfield ABC, KRCR, also runs a cable-only version of WB, called KIWB. It is possible that this channel is now being offered to DirecTV as the WB for the market. I believe it is KIWB because it is being run by DirecTV on channel 10 within the market. That is the cable channel used in the Chico/Redding market for KIWB.

[Jacob S]

I think the satellite companies should provide a national feed of the networks including WB/UPN that is not available in that area or has not be uplinked instead of charging extra for them.

Dish Network's superstation availability is one advantage they have over DirecTv and one reason why I havent switched. If they got the SuperStations I would be more likely to switch.

[Geronimo]

There are a number of markets where cable has a WB feed and DirecTV does not. Why does bakersfield have it when no one else does? That is I believe the question. As for PBS there has been a national PBS feed on satellite for some time. That part is not odd. Just the WB part----if it is true.

[Geronimo]

out of curiosity what is the channel number for that WB feed?


I answerred my own question. The DirecTV web site showsa Channel 12 that is simply "WB". So Bakersfield folks are getting something. Whether it is OTA or a natioanl feed I don't know. I also can't say why no one else gets it. But it is there.

[moedog]

Again, the WB has a cable only service which is available only in sub-100 DMAs. In those areas, such as Bakersfield, that service is presented on cable systems much like most other cable-only channels in that cable systems are free to insert their own ads, promos and even logos. In some of these sub 100 markets, local OTA stations "sponsor" the WB channel, inserting their ads, and logos, including fake call letters and channel numbers. In other areas, the cable companies "sponsor" the virtual WB stations. In either case, it is not really a local production--it is a national service in which local ads are inserted, just like CNN, TNT, etc. There is no local presence to those virtual statons except for a hard drive at the cable head end. Even though almost every smaller market has the virtual WB channel on cable, some top 100 markets do not, thus they have no WB at all. Example--Richmond VA. This is because the national WB channel is not offered in top 100 markets because their syndicated programs do not have rights there. For example, I don't think you'll ever find Ellen Degenerous (SP) airing OTA in a sub 100 market---but you certainly will find it on the cable virtual WB channel. In Harrisonburg and Charlottesville Va, both sub-100 markets, Adelphia offers UPN on WDCA/20 from DC. THey could, if they so desired, also offer WBDC/50/WB from DC. Instead they offer the virtual WB channel and profit from the ads they insert. They can't do that with WDCA and could not with WBDC. Any questions?

[Geronimo]

here isa link to another thread. http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=29001&highlight=Bakersfield

Again the oddity here is that NO OTHER DMA except Bakersfield gets this.

The question is not why is it on cable in places like Richmond, VA . The question is why is it on DirecTV but only in Bakersfield and not in all the other DMAs.

Any answers to that question?

[Link]

Oh? They didn't tell me this. Why no UPN?

They do have one, WUVI 45.

[Link]

here isa link to another thread. http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=29001&highlight=Bakersfield

Again the oddity here is that NO OTHER DMA except Bakersfield gets this.

The question is not why is it on cable in places like Richmond, VA . The question is why is it on DirecTV but only in Bakersfield and not in all the other DMAs.

Any answers to that question?

GOOD QUESTION. Why can't they just offer that WB national feed in the 380s/390s to offer everyone. I know they'd pay the $1 or 2 for it. It is also unfair not to carry it in other markets that have no WB station. I would think WB would want their national feed carried and all Directv viewers to have access to WB to increase their audience reach and ratings.

[Link]

out of curiosity what is the channel number for that WB feed?


I answerred my own question. The DirecTV web site showsa Channel 12 that is simply "WB". So Bakersfield folks are getting something. Whether it is OTA or a natioanl feed I don't know. I also can't say why no one else gets it. But it is there.

Bright House Networks cable carries the WB national feed on channel 12--but that is not a local over the air channel. Cox Cable carries WB national on channel 15. Both cable systems carry KTLA 5 LA's WB anyway, so on cable they get 2 WB channels--which makes me wonder why some cable systems even carry the WB national feed.

[moedog]

I suppose Comcast cable in Richmond could carry WBDC from DC, WTVZ from Norfolk (both nearby WB affils) or even WPIX from NYC. The problem is they would be subject to black-out restrictions, meaning that almost all programing would be pre-empted, since there are 5 commercial stations there (they do have UPN), in fact a few WB programs are aired in Richmond, at 3 AM in morning by the NBC affil., and I guess they might be blacked out too, on the imported WB station. Since Richmond is market #59, shows such as Ellen and Will and Grace, etc. have been sold to local stations. THis is why the national WB virtual channel can not be offered to cable systems there.

[Geronimo]

We are not talking about cable. We are talking about DirecTV and why it apparently gives the WB national feed to one DMA only. But seems odd. I assume that there is an explanation of some sort but I do not know what it is. But bringing what cable does into this is only confusing it.

[Greg Bimson]

I made a mistake.

Bakersfield's WB is probably the Fresno WB. I was confusing the Bakersfield market with the Chico/Redding market. However, KWFB is run by KGET, the NBC affiliate.

[Geronimo]

According to that other thread it is Fresno. But if that is the case why isnt everyone ina market without the WB getting some other station? What makes this Bakersfield/Fresno situation different?

[Link]

I made a mistake.

Bakersfield's WB is probably the Fresno WB. I was confusing the Bakersfield market with the Chico/Redding market. However, KWFB is run by KGET, the NBC affiliate.

No, Fresno's WB 59 is KFRE. KWFB carries the national WB schedule which is the same nationwide.

[jdspencer]

My area has a cable only WB affiliate on TWC. Our DMA is 154, so no DirecTV locals for a while. Even when they do get to 154, will my cable only WB affiliate be added? I doubt it. So, for those of us that don't have viable OTA WB or UPN affiliates, DirecTV should do what Dish has done. Allow me the option to buy these channels from wherever. Now that HD is the hot topic. Go right to WB and UPN HD national feeds.

[Guesst925XTU]

I live in a market that gets both a UPN & a WB affiliate.

There is nothing of any interest to me on either channel and I never watch either one.

[Geronimo]

Well then you should be happy.