Usually on the borders of markets, the cable systems will carry both market stations. Usually both market stations come in pretty good on the border area via an antenna, and are significantly viewed in the communities.
When they are significantly viewed, the station group can elect mustcarry on that cable system even if its a different DMA. The cable system cannot drop a station that is significantly viewed that requested mustcarry.
For example,
Cecil County, MD is halfway between Baltimore & Philadelphia, but Baltimore DMA. However cable system carries nets from both cities.
Mercer County, NJ is halfway between NY & Philadelphia, but Philly DMA. However cable system carries nets from both cities.
Chester County, PA is halfway between Philadelphia County and Lancaster County so Comcast carries NBC 10 (NBC O&O) from Philly and WGAL 8 (Hearst) from the Harrisburg - Lebanon - Lancaster - York DMA.
Kent County, DE is in between Salisbury, MD and Philadelphia/Wilmington, DE but in Philly DMA. They get all the major stations from the Philly DMA, and WMDT 47 and WBOC 16 Salisbury are carried as "significantly viewed"
Northampton and Lehigh County, PA are in Philadelphia DMA but are not too far from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The stations from those markets come in OK in those counties, and are thus significantly viewed.
It may be an advantage,
however most subscribers live in the city or nearby the city, which is usually not near another city or DMA.
In Washington DMA, most of the viewers are within Fairfax County, VA, Washington DC, Montgomery & Prince Georges Co. They make up the majority of the market and practically no Baltimore locals are carried on these cable systems.
Majority of residents in Philadelphia DMA live near Philadelphia.
In these counties, NY channels arent carried, nor or Lancaster or any other market.
The amount of potential subscribers on the borders of markets isnt so much that cable has advantage. On in these communities,
If a merger were to occur, I'd think significantly viewed would really need to be considered. I'd be for it, if all local channels were carried and significantly viewed was applied. I'm only afraid a DBS merger will bring a company in debt that has to compete with cable, and only way is to reach cable's rates and more.