Here is a strange

[Pete K.]

While running some tests, I hooked up an old, deactivated
E* 2400 receiver and after browsing the barker channels
came across "The Weakest Link" on CBS 42. It had to
be either WIAT in Birmingham or KEYE in Austin both
of which run "WL" (daytime version) at the same hour
(4:30P CDT).
I have never subscribed to Birmingham or Austin locals
in the three years I've had E*.
I'm guessing that I was most likely watching Birmigham,
since it is on Spotbeam and I am only a four hour
drive from there.
Other than barker channels and music, that was the
only unsubscribed channel I could get.
Can anyone explain this?

[gcutler]

Could be some testing of spotbeams? Instead of having to have Dish employee subscribed to that local, if those in spotbeam area pick up channel then they know spotbeam is working in the area. Imagine process of sub/desub for testing could cause alot of problem, so just open channel up for testing.

But this is just conjecture, sounds plausable???? :shrug:

[Pete K.]

It is plausable. After I began browsing again, I could
not go back to that channel., it simply "disappeared"
from my receiver.

[DarrellP]

Same thing happened to me with TVJapan one day. I noticed it was not red in the guide and tuned it in. I left the channel and went right back and it was red and told me I was not subscribed.

On the other hand, I've seen channels that were not red and they would not let me tune into them either, telling me it was a subscription channel and I needed to subscribe.

[dlsnyder]

TV Japan has a "free" news segment every day.

[TNGTony]

TV Japan is available to anyone with a Dish Receiver (Subscribed or not) from 6-6:30 and 7-8 am weekdays and mano other times during the day. Look on the EPG for "Free TVJ". Many programs have an alternate audio track in English (Japanese alterenate audio channel) and some are in English.

See ya
Tony

[JohnH]

It probably was Birmingham as the Nets are still on 110 as well as the spots. The ones on 110 are in the clear. Your receiver was probably using old maps for a while until it updated them, therefore not allowing it to know those channels are even there.

[RJS1111111]

Originally posted by TNGTony
TV Japan is available to anyone with a Dish Receiver (Subscribed or not) from 6-6:30 and 7-8 am weekdays and mano other times during the day. Look on the EPG for "Free TVJ". Many programs have an alternate audio track in English (Japanese alterenate audio channel) and some are in English.

See ya
Tony

TV Japan's free segments are broadcast in the clear,
so your receiver doesn't even need to be DISH brand.

You just have to be looking at 61.5 or 148, with a DBS LNBF.