Nashville locals - Waiver?

[Slide]

A question for anyone that can provide info:

I live in Cookeville, TN, a Nashville, TN market. I'm a current Directv non-hd subscriber. I cannot receive locals via OTA due to distance. I was curious if it is possible to get a waiver to receive all my locals in HD? I've been waiting to buy a HDTV until I can get them.

I emailed the local CBS program manager and he told me that they would likely provide me a waiver but it had to be requested by the provider.

Do you all think it would be worth buying a HDTV now and trying to get waivers or just wait until mid year and go for the mpeg4?

Thanks!

[CCarncross]

I dont believe yOur locals will be available in HD for awhile from Direct, Nashville is #30 on the DMA list....they only have about the first 6 or 8 from the top 10 or so even available yet....

[JLucPicard]

Slide,

Welcome to DBSTalk!

I can't tell from your post, but I think it would be worth a call to D* to see if they have any experience with HD waivers in your zip code. Explain that you are thinking of going through the expense of purchasing an HDTV and equipment if it is worth your while. They may be able to give you some idea before you buy everything.

A couple of things to keep in mind. The HD waivers, by law, are a bit different than getting waivers for SD. Just make sure any CSR you talk to undersstands it's the HD waivers you are inquiring about. Secondly, if you do get HD waivers, the HD broadcast channels you would receive (big four - ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC) would be the NY feeds, and not your actual local stations - at least until the MPEG4 HD locals are rolled out in your area.

Unless someone here can post their experience about your area, I would start with a call to D* before incurring the expense. Then you'd be looking at whether you would be getting an HD receiver or the HR10-250, possibly gambling on what type of swap out deal there may be on that - I haven't seen anything definitve yet on that.

You posted your question in the right place - lots of great help on this board. Again, welcome, and best of luck on whatever you decide to do!

[Slide]

Thanks so much for the replies.

I'll definitely call D* to see if they can provide any info.

Thanks again.

[sullivanssa]

I live about 4 miles from cookeville, and all I have are waivers that gave me all the ny channels. I love the sports hd and basically hd is awesome.

[slickpuck]

Hello, I'm new here too, just got my Direct TV HD hookup a few weeks ago.

So, if you receive the waiver do you get to keep your existing SD locals, and you would receive the big 4 HD network feeds, too (or do you lose the SD locals)? I cant think of a downside to this, as my SD channels look like crap since I got the HD. The HD channels are amazing, though. :)

Also, where can I find the schedule for the Phoenix locals to go up on the sat?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: I went to the DTV site and it looks like I am eligible for 3 of the 4 network HD feeds. Does Direct TV charge $1.50 for each channel?

[Slide]

Slickpuck, they have not announced a schedule for the LiL rollout other than "early 2006". It is my understanding also that if you get the waivers for the national networks that you also keep your local SD channels. Like you, I couldn't care less if I lose my locals though.

Sullivan, thanks for the info, I'm going to call Directv tomorrow to see if they will request waivers on my behalf before I make the committment to buying a new TV and getting a new dish & receiver.

[slickpuck]

Well, it gets interesting. I went to the D* site and it said I was eligible for 3 of 4 HD network feeds. When I called D* the CSR checked and said I was only eligible for 1 network feed, totally conflicting with the D* site eligibility results. After numerous attempts he duplicated what the D* site told me. He stated that in spite of that, the eligibility site was wrong and I was still not eligible; he said I probably wouldnt get the one but D* would apply for it. When my installer put my HD in, I asked if OTA HD was available in my area and he said no, so I did not have him put an OTA antennae in. A check of Antennaeweb.org shows that only 2 digital channels are available in my area. I am not happy but the CSR did the best he could. Regardless, I am writing letters to the locals to request waivers. I dont want to watch the football playoffs and super bowl in SD, particularly since I think my SD picture has been degraded since HD was installed!

To even make it more interesting, D* tells me that the my address is claimed by 1 ABC, 2 CBS, 2 Fox, and 3 NBC channels. So it looks like I have to apply for 8 waivers to try to get 4 channels :) .

BTW, he said the phoenix locals are due "Spring or summer".

[CCarncross]

AFAIK, noone is eligible for distant HD locals anywhere except where the new HD locals are being offered in MPEG4, or in a white area where no locals are receivable with OTA. ESPECIALLY if D* currently carries your locals in SD. You just have to wait until your DMA goes live for MPEG4 HD locals...

[Slide]

I cannot receive locals OTA, but do get them in SD through D*. Are you saying its impossible to get the national waiver in that case?

[CCarncross]

Yes, If you could legally get HD Networks that way, everyone would have been doing that for as long as D* has had the national HD feeds up there...

[slickpuck]

AFAIK, noone is eligible for distant HD locals anywhere except where the new HD locals are being offered in MPEG4, or in a white area where no locals are receivable with OTA. ESPECIALLY if D* currently carries your locals in SD. You just have to wait until your DMA goes live for MPEG4 HD locals...

I'm still confused about this; I can't get HD channels OTA. I also get my locals from D*. By "White area" does that mean an area with no HD OTA, or nothing of any kind OTA? Are you saying that you could only get HD OTA if you get no local channels at all, either OTA or by D*?

What irritates me is I know people in this area who have received the waiver. The D* CSR I spoke with even told me some of it makes no sense, in one case one person was approved but his neighbor across the street was not.

I did receive a response from CBS today: "We're sorry but we don't allow direct broadcast satellite providers to import CBS programming from stations outside of our market. I understand that your primary concern is with getting CBS high definition programming. DirecTV is working toward carrying our local high
definition signals. The service is called Local-into-Local high
definition delivery and they have it operating in the twelve largest
markets already. Phoenix is the 14th market. DirecTV can probably tell
you when they expect that service to be available here in the Phoenix
market."

It was nice of them to respond. Not sure if I'll give up yet or not. I got 3 months free showtime so far from D* for my efforts. :D