Senators Want Probe Of DIRECTV On HDTV Signals

TVPredictions.com ^ | September 6, 2006 | Phillip Swann

[BigSkyFreeper]

EchoStar says it will pay $100 million to local stations to settle the nine-year-old legal battle over 'distant' network TV signals. The local stations are concerned that EchoStar's subscribers will watch the national signals instead of their feeds.

My local market refuses to be carried, so bite me Senators!

[bmwcyle]

Leave my Dishnetwork alone.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I just checked, my Denver, LA and NYC networks are still there. I think DirecTV is doing this to get us Dish Network subscribers to switch. I ain't switchin'. I've been a loyal Dish Network subscriber since 1998.

[Past Your Eyes]

Leave it to a couple of dingbat pols to bollux things up. I've finally got the network channels I want, even though I'm not supposed to have them. Three of those channels are from NH and I live in NH but I'm not supposed to have them because they are part of the "Boston" market area and I'm supposed to be in the Burlington, VT - Plattsburgh, NY area. Makes perfect sense to me. /s

[Past Your Eyes]

I started with Primestar, went to Direct when it bought out Primestar and have now had Dish for many years. And I ain't switching again neither! And there's no cable out here in the woods so that's not an option.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I asked a few years ago if I could switch to the Billings, Montana market (for Montana news), they said I couldn't, and I said I would want things left the way they are. Echostar agreed with my request and since then, hasn't turned those distant stations off. The market I am in (Minot/Bismarck, ND) two stations refuse to be carried, so Dish Network only carries one. I ain't paying $5.99 for one channel, but I am however paying $12.99 for three distant markets that have all 4 networks.

[BigSkyFreeper]

've finally got the network channels I want, even though I'm not supposed to have them.

Echostar knows I have NY, LA, and Denver, but I have not told them to switch to what is considered my local market. They won't switch or turn them off without your approval. As long as your happy, I wouldn't say anything to them. :)

[gridlock]

The fact that nobody is watching the big three networks anymore has little to do with distribution channels and everything to do with the product.

[BigSkyFreeper]

The fact that nobody is watching the big three networks anymore has little to do with distribution channels and everything to do with the product.

Network TV does still have value and viewers. I personally don't watch the network news, it's the only thing I refuse to watch. The biggest PLUS with having networks from clear across the country is "time shifting". If I miss an episode of '24' on WNYW-NY, I can time shift an hour later and watch it on KDVR-Denver, or three hours later on KTLA-LA.

[sure_fine]

these senators on a last dutch effort to appear relevant?

[cva66snipe]

I wish government would stop trying to protect TV stations from competition. If I want to purchase a distant signal that's my money to do as I please. Basically local stations with the help of Big Brother and Nielsen {I think} became overlords of what was considered local viewing areas. This did not take into consideration such things as local terrains but rather used mileage radius formulas. The proof of no functional feel solely upon the consumer and local station managers had final say if you could watch distant network stations. I'm certain some how and some way government can mess this up yet even more than it already has.

[dirtbiker]

Well, crap!!!!!

With these goobers messing with the sat companies only means one thing.....

MY SAT BILL WILL BE GOING UP!!!!!!

Thanks for nothing, MORONS!!!!!

My oldest son had a bumper sticker on his government notebook in high school that read "US Government Policy: If It Ain't Broke, Fix It 'til It Is!" Ain't it the truth!

[BigSkyFreeper]

Local station's argue that local advertisers are getting the shaft from those of us like you and me who opt to subscribe to distant networks. That's mainly the reason why they wanted you and I to be denied the option of distant networks because Joe Blow's Ford/Mercury/Cadillac located "on the edge of town" ain't getting business from you and I. Even if Joe Blow's Ford/Mercury/Cadillac ads were being seen by me, the chances of me dropping in to see his show room clear across the state are slim to none.

[cva66snipe]

I get distant because even though I live 20 miles from the local towers terrain blocks the signal. The towers are south of me. I live on the north slope of a high ridge. The local station managers looked at their coverage maps which were simply radius maps and said MINE!!! They were the final say. To prove otherwise would cost you a lot of red tape and money having field signal strength readings etc done. Even then they could say NO IT MINE like spoiled brats. I couldn't see the local stations nor their advertisers anyway. They acted like clueless idiots when I told them I was only getting signals bounced off nearby ridges which produced several ghost images on the screen. No antenna is gonna fix that problem.

I went through this years ago and finally got distant signals after Direct TV made a deal with the locals. I live in a rural area and cable is not an option either.

[Mark was here]

Why does a "local" station have a say any way?

If you bought a book out of state, and brought it in state, would you have to pay the local book store a royalty fee before you read it? This is not a perfect analogy but I think it is like what the locals are asking for.

[BigSkyFreeper]

The nearest TV tower from me is about 131 miles away "as the crow flies", with hills and valleys in between. All I can receive is just a snowy picture and the faint "appearance" of sound in the white noise. This from a high-gain antenna on a 70 foot tall tower.

I subscribed to Dish Network, and the gal on the phone asked me if I had cable service within the last 90 days, and I said no and that I live 20 miles from the nearest town with cable.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I know, it is goofy, and 9 times out of 10 the government doesn't know what the hell it's doing and mucks things up trying to find a solution.

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

This is insane. One should be able to have a subscription to whichever programming they wish to watch.

[Types_with_Fist]

I've been a loyal Dish Network subscriber since 1998.

I just recently signed up, got their "everything" package. I can't believe I never signed up before. I adore it and would probably have a difficult time ever giving it up.