I wrote my local ABC station (WLS Chicago) to see if they were aware that due to Dish's injunction that their station which had been popular among viewers in the Terre Haute, IN DMA and Lafayette, IN DMA (where there is no local ABC affiliate) was no longer an option for those viewers. Not only can these viewers not get WLS-TV, they cannot get ABC at all (unless they happen to qualify under NPS but who knows).
The station said they were aware of this and had received this memo from the programming department:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apparently, for some time now, the DISH Network folks (Echostar) have been supplying WLS/ABC 7 Chicago to DISH subscribers who live outside of the Chicagoland area (most likely to subscribers in the border states of Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan; viewers for whom WLS is NOT their local ABC station.)
This occurred without the knowledge of WLS and is a violation of copyright by the DISH Network. (Subscribers are, in the main, entitled to receive only their local ABC station.) Effective December 1, 2006, a court order comes into effect prohibiting DISH from continuing this practice.
Some subscribers may call the station questioning the cessation of the WLS signal. Again, this was a violation by DISH who had been supplying WLS illegally and without our knowledge. The decision to halt supply of this signal is a result of a court order and NOT a station mandate. Subscribers should contact their local DISH office in this regard, or visit our website at www.ABC7chicago.com for details regarding other broadcast viewing options.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The point I was trying to make was that these IL and IN counties had lost ABC and wouldn't be able to watch their network any longer. As an ABC O&O, I was hoping WLS would pass this on to the network execs making them aware of this so they would realize there were viewers out there no longer getting ABC.
From the memo, it seems like WLS didn't even know their station was a distant option on Dish Network. Many viewers that were receiving WLS via satellite were ones that did legitimately qualify for it. However, they act like anyone receiving it outside of Chicagoland for any reason is a violation by Dish.
The station said they were aware of this and had received this memo from the programming department:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apparently, for some time now, the DISH Network folks (Echostar) have been supplying WLS/ABC 7 Chicago to DISH subscribers who live outside of the Chicagoland area (most likely to subscribers in the border states of Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan; viewers for whom WLS is NOT their local ABC station.)
This occurred without the knowledge of WLS and is a violation of copyright by the DISH Network. (Subscribers are, in the main, entitled to receive only their local ABC station.) Effective December 1, 2006, a court order comes into effect prohibiting DISH from continuing this practice.
Some subscribers may call the station questioning the cessation of the WLS signal. Again, this was a violation by DISH who had been supplying WLS illegally and without our knowledge. The decision to halt supply of this signal is a result of a court order and NOT a station mandate. Subscribers should contact their local DISH office in this regard, or visit our website at www.ABC7chicago.com for details regarding other broadcast viewing options.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The point I was trying to make was that these IL and IN counties had lost ABC and wouldn't be able to watch their network any longer. As an ABC O&O, I was hoping WLS would pass this on to the network execs making them aware of this so they would realize there were viewers out there no longer getting ABC.
From the memo, it seems like WLS didn't even know their station was a distant option on Dish Network. Many viewers that were receiving WLS via satellite were ones that did legitimately qualify for it. However, they act like anyone receiving it outside of Chicagoland for any reason is a violation by Dish.