[kandor]

My local PBS channel doesn't always run the show the national network runs. The latest example is PBS Mystery. I called Directv but I was told that the only people who get this are the ones who can't get their local PBS. (I'm in Corpus Christi which gets SD Local channels by DTV.)

Is this a situation where I can get a waiver if the local channel agrees? Or am I out of luck?

 

[Davenlr]

Is this a situation where I can get a waiver if the local channel agrees? Or am I out of luck?

Never heard of anyone applying for a waiver from PBS, so if you do, let us know the results.
If you want to spend a little money, you can get all the PBS stations (most in HD) with a 39" KU dish, and an FTA HD satellite receiver from their satellite AMC21.

http://www.lyngsat.com/amc21.html

 

[jdspencer]

Is OTA a possibility?

DirecTV has the -1 PBS for us. I use OTA for the -2 and -3 subchannels.

 

[kandor]

Is OTA a possibility?

DirecTV has the -1 PBS for us. I use OTA for the -2 and -3 subchannels.

I have OTA and get the -1 and -2. But neither channel has the PBS Mystery show I wanted to see tonight.

 

[PrinceLH]

I have OTA and get the -1 and -2. But neither channel has the PBS Mystery show I wanted to see tonight.

Yeah, the give us 1 and 2, on Directv, in glorius 480i, here in Watertown. I can get the HD feed, over the air and it's stunning.

 

[Michael H..]

My local PBS channel doesn't always run the show the national network runs. The latest example is PBS Mystery. I called Directv but I was told that the only people who get this are the ones who can't get their local PBS. (I'm in Corpus Christi which gets SD Local channels by DTV.)

Is this a situation where I can get a waiver if the local channel agrees? Or am I out of luck?

Czech your eligibility for DNS PBS first:
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageIFnorail.jsp?assetId=P4880022#h:576.544
If you are not eligible, since you can get your local PBS, your chance of a waiver is virtually nil.

The published PBS net policy (dating to pre-2000) if it hasn't been amended, was to promote local over the DNS feed.
To the extent that the national programming feed has been advanced streamed to affiliates with guidelines to broadcast 24 hours in advance of the PBS net (VA) broadcast, enhancing local programming over the DNS.
Verify that your local PBS doesn't broadcast the program of interest 24 hours (adjust for EDT) earlier.
If your local PBS does not carry the program at all (which is entirely possible, since each local is an independent affiliate), then contact the local affiliate and ask them to add it.
However, PBS Mystery is a staple, and I would be surprised that it wasn't carried on the local affiliate, but as I said, there are exceptions and you would know better what is available at your locale.

I have all the DNS channels (grandfathered), HD e/w for the 4 major networks, plus DNS PBS and CWe/CWw, which are NOT HD on DirecTV, and probably never will be.
I also receive the locals via OTA, in order to receive sub-channels, and so that I can get CW & PBS in HD. Consequently I (almost) never watch the DNS versions of those.
The only scenario where I would, is the one you describe, where the program is not available on the local PBS, and then would be in SD on DNS.

Although lobbying your local to add a program is challenging, it is still more likely than getting a waiver, which does not mean that DirecTV is required to provide, only that you are eligible for consideration.
There are instances of this, and DirecTV's position is that a waiver can be occasionally incorrectly granted, in violation of federal regulations which DirecTV will comply with and result in DNS denial, waiver notwithstanding.
Even if you could get a waiver (station manager is your neighbor...) DirecTV will likely not supply DNS... You can get the channel (OTA), which is the qualifier, not that it doesn't carry a program.

 

[jdspencer]

My -1 of PBS is the HD feed. This is the same feed that DirecTV offers as a local. The -2 and -3 feeds are shown in my AM21.

 

[susanandmark]

I understand exactly what the original poster is asking, and why you would want it. We are in Dallas DMA and our local PBS has the same problem, frequently deviating from, or censoring, the national PBS schedule, often on programs we wish to watch.

Years ago (close to a decade now?), you could pay to get the national PBS feed, even after DirecTV removed it for all subscribers, but that went away when DirecTV's local roll out, including PBS, went national. I was told at that time that the local PBS channels had complained, saying it was impacting revenue, and PBS is now strictly regulated. In fact, we qualify for DNS (grandfathered in as a "white" area) and still receive HD feeds of the East and West coast ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX channels, in addition to our locals. (West coast was re-added what, a year ago, now under new regulations?) We can not get PBS or CW, because those channels were not available at the time the "grandfathering" legislation went into place.

Anywho, no, unfortunately, 99 percent of DirecTV subscribers can not get the PBS national feed. Basically, if you get your local PBS via DirecTV, in SD or HD, no matter what its shortcomings, you're stuck with on that.

 

[Michael H..]

... Years ago (close to a decade now?), you could pay to get the national PBS feed, even after DirecTV removed it for all subscribers, but that went away when DirecTV's local roll out, including PBS, went national. I was told at that time that the local PBS channels had complained, saying it was impacting revenue, and PBS is now strictly regulated. In fact, we qualify for DNS (grandfathered in as a "white" area) and still receive HD feeds of the East and West coast ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX channels, in addition to our locals. (West coast was re-added what, a year ago, now under new regulations?) We can not get PBS or CW, because those channels were not available at the time the "grandfathering" legislation went into place...

Preface by saying that I've found your postings to always be informative, helpful, and accurate.
Based upon personal experience, the information you provided regarding the availability of DNS PBS (and CW) prior to grandfathering, and it's ability to be grandfathered are not quite correct.
I currently have all DNS channels 389 (PBS) through 399 (FOXW) inclusive.
I have had E/W DNS since inception, the SD days when each network station originated from different markets, Seattle, San Fran, Pitt, etc., rather than all E from NY and W from LA, and each network was invoiced separately at $1.50 for both E/W.
Also had DNS PBS, and all subscribed DNS (including PBS) was grandfathered.
Later, (only) DNS PBS was disconnected.
I called the DNS department, after they verified it was grandfathered, reconnected it, and has been so since.
This was when all DNS channels were still SD.
As I said in my prior post, I rarely watch DNS PBS and CW E/W because they still are in SD (I watch their local HD's), but keep them at $2.50/month (priced less/differently than the Big4 networks) because I do not want to lose them, even though I have been consistently told that they will never be broadcast in HD (in the case of PBS, because PBS requests/insists that their's not be.)
One other bit of information that may have contributed...
Back in the days of USSB providing premium programming for DirecTV, I received DirecTV through Pegasus for >10 years, and my grandfathered status and the DNS PBS dis/re-connect took place during that period.
(Eventually acquired around '04-'05 by DirecTV.)
That this took place while with Pegasus could account for the different outcome.

The circumstances of my case being far from typical, and possibly the only exception, I do agree with you that no-one today is going to get a waiver for DNS PBS, and the best course of action is to contact the local affiliate, and let them know that they are losing viewership by not broadcasting certain programs.