CBS-HD distant feeds & WTOL Toledo?

[bthom73]

The last few hours have been one of the most frustrating
experiences of my life... Not kidding...

It all started by me reading the following link:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/locals/cbshd/index.shtml

According to this, I qualify since I live in one of the CBS
"owned and operated" service areas (Detroit, MI) with
no other CBS stations even close to Detroit.

Anyway, after (a) being hung up on several times, (b) telling
me I don't qualify without any explaination as to why, and
c) talking to a supervisor who was trying to tell me that
an "owned and operated" station and an "affiliate station"
are the same thing and I need to get a waiver from WWJ
who is the local O&O CBS station (!!!), I finally (randomly)
connected with someone who was able to explain to me
why I don't qualify. The answer is a little far fetched but at
least is doesn't contradict the web link above.

WTOL-CBS out of Toledo,OH is supposedly considered local
to Detroit according to the customer service rep, although it's
over 70 miles away and in a different state...

Does anyone have any experience getting a waiver from
WTOL for use in the Detroit area? I'd really love to hear
how it went (good or bad).

Or, is this more random info from CSRs who try to pretend
they know what they're talking about? It seems legit since
it theoretically _might_ be possible to get a weak WTOL
signal if I had a really good antenna and clear line of site.

In case anyone needs the Dish's waiver submital fax
number, they said to fax the waiver to 303-723-3964.

Thanks in advance for any info/advice.

-Brian

[Ken H]

The last few hours have been one of the most frustrating
experiences of my life... Not kidding...

It all started by me reading the following link:
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/locals/cbshd/index.shtml

According to this, I qualify since I live in one of the CBS
"owned and operated" service areas (Detroit, MI) with
no other CBS stations even close to Detroit.

Anyway, after (a) being hung up on several times, (b) telling
me I don't qualify without any explaination as to why, and
c) talking to a supervisor who was trying to tell me that
an "owned and operated" station and an "affiliate station"
are the same thing and I need to get a waiver from WWJ
who is the local O&O CBS station (!!!), I finally (randomly)
connected with someone who was able to explain to me
why I don't qualify. The answer is a little far fetched but at
least is doesn't contradict the web link above.

WTOL-CBS out of Toledo,OH is supposedly considered local
to Detroit according to the customer service rep, although it's
over 70 miles away and in a different state...

Does anyone have any experience getting a waiver from
WTOL for use in the Detroit area? I'd really love to hear
how it went (good or bad).

Or, is this more random info from CSRs who try to pretend
they know what they're talking about? It seems legit since
it theoretically _might_ be possible to get a weak WTOL
signal if I had a really good antenna and clear line of site.

In case anyone needs the Dish's waiver submital fax
number, they said to fax the waiver to 303-723-3964.

Thanks in advance for any info/advice.

-BrianDish enforces WTOL's rights in the Detroit area to prevent you from getting the out of market CBS HD feed from NYC. Toledo is 60 miles from Detroit, downtown to downtown. Many Detroit area viewers, especially if you live south of 6 Mile Road, can get Toledo stations with an outdoor directional antenna.

For reasons not quite understood, DirecTV on the other hand, allows Detroit area subs to get the same CBS HD feed from NYC.

[Link]

Well if WTOL is preventing you from getting CBS-HD then you should be able to subscribe to the Toledo Local Package on Dish if you want to then. These laws are so ridiculous its pathetic. The only station that you should be required permission from is the one in your DMA--since that is the only one you are technically forced to watch!