Distant Networks: STELA reauth, DNS and LiL

Congress should also allow providers like Dish and DirecTV to deliver a DNS alternative when those greedy local station owners demand more money and pull their signals.

 

"instead of nearby media markets "that may carry important and relevant local news and alerts." They conceded the current law allows that but didn't see why AT&T didn't try to deliver in-region news"

This ^ is what always bugged the hell out of me.

 

another citation:

https://www.broadcastingcable.com/n...rectv-for-small-market-remote-area-tv-signals

 

I'm less than 5 miles away from the neighboring DMA.

 

DirecTV does similar things for markets that don't have local affiliates of any of the big 5 or PBS. They either remap one of the national feeds, or import a neighboring market's affiliate if the spotbeam covers it. (i.e. Mankato where they use the Minneapolis affiliates for ABC, NBC and CW and the PBS national feed or Zanesville where they use the Columbus affiliates for ABC, CBS and Fox, and the national DNS feeds for CW and PBS)

Without DNS, or any replacement provision for markets like that, they'll be forced to drop the missing networks from those markets, or only provide them to bordering counties on the significantly viewed list.

 

I have no use for "Local" channels. I get shows from the 4 main networks by other means. I do have them from DirecTV, but I never watch them, and don't record anything from them. Unfortunately, I still have to see annoying commercials that usually only play on those Local Channels, from time to time, because of the Commercial insertion that DirecTV does.

The local channels around here will have "Breaking News" anytime it rains for more than a few minutes, with "live on scene" reports. They will preempt shows to show this "news". Sorry, but Local channel "News" is so out-dated, they should get rid of it completely. Even the "local" radio stations all have syndicated shows on them, with very little local content. They are basically just a repeater with local commercials (and lots of them). They have changed with the times, TV Channels just refuse to.

Imagine how much capacity would be saved if all they had to do was provide a national feed for everyone. And they should be provided to all providers for free, since all 4 (ABC, CBS, NBC & Fox) are advertiser supported networks. And we, as customers, should not be charged for them from our provider either.

 

the NBA, MLB, NHL, NFL. college basketball / college football have local games that are not national

 

Keep in mind that the only reason Dish had the DNS rights taken away was because they were abusing or defying the laws for who qualified. Wouldnt be fair if they mandated DirecTV had to add the remaining markets to keep theirs. Dish ONLY did it because that was the only way they could get DNS back after being so careless with having it the first time.

The other part of this for me is this bill needs to take care of the orphan counties and not sweep it back under the rug. I am tired of living in Oklahoma but being forced to get my locals from Kansas and Missouri. I found out several years ago about the Significantly Viewed exclusion and convinced 2 of the 3 big 4 from Tulsa (in state DMA) to add them with DirecTV so we do get 2 in state local channels from a neighboring DMA. But I want it fixed for all providers. I am working on trying to get my market changed to the Tulsa DMA. I found online where a county in Colorado petitioned the FCC a few years ago and got it approved to change from New Mexico to Denver. Its been blocked since and is still tired up but we are much shorter distances away from our in state locals than Colorado was. Devner was 335 miles from the county that won the petition. So in end I would settle for some government intervention that says every provider has to offer one in state local channel that covers weather and the local channels have to offer out of market channels at a discount but I will keep working to have my entire county changed to the in state local DMA.

I have called several Congressmen, Committee for Commerce and Energy and many others already. This is serious. We need to get this bill done the correct way this time. Not just reauthorize it for another 5 years. I will be looking to see when they finally have hearings on this. Its been frustrating as my Congressman is not on the committee that votes on this but when I call a Congressman's office that is on the committee, they dont want to talk to me cause I am not in their area. The New Mexico Congressman has the same issue with Orphan Counties and should be all about this. More to come but its time to get this figured out this time.

 

Thats not the point here James. DISH wouldnt have done it if their hand was not forced for their bad business practices. Why should DirecTV be held to the same standard when they followed the laws that DISH did not?

 

Thats a good point to. Dish chose that it was worth the investment to get DNS back. These go hand in hand though. DISH lost the DNS rights because they did something wrong. Does anyone honestly believe Dish would of added the last ones they were missing if they were not forced to, to get DNS back?