Anybody know a way around this?...

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Direct TV touts that 94% of their customers get Local Channels. (In other words... Network Coverage)
As fate has it, I fall into the 6% that don't. (Welcome to life behind the Redwood Curtain)
Direct TV has submitted a waiver request on my behalf to the networks and if approved, Direct TV with allow me to recieve Distant Network Coverage.
I'm told that the proccess takes about 45 days and I've also been told by other customers in my area that I probably won't be approved.
Network coverage is important to me, because of sporting events, mainly Nascar races.
My other option is to go with an off air antenna, which Direct TV's website says I can get seamless coverage with the press of a button on my remote.
I tried an experiment with a simple antenna during the AFC Championship game on CBS and it worked fine, but... CBS is the only network that came in OK. ABC/NBC came in real snowy and Fox didn't come in at all.
Not being able to get Fox concerns me because the first third of the Nascar season is going to be on Fox.
Now here's what really baffles me... My neighbor right across the street gets Distant Network Coverage through the "West Coast Feed" and told me he didn't have to apply for any waivers, it was included with his package.
This makes me wonder if something changed recently with Direct TV and perhaps customers prior to that change were allowed to keep what they had???
Anybody know a way to get around this waiver deal???

[jbbooks]

I can't explain it Dean. I have the network coverage on my Directv, and I'm only 35 miles from downtown Kansas City. In other words, I had no problem at all getting local channels from my satellite setup.

[forestfrog]

I'm in the same situation. I've had distant network coverage for the past 6+ years through DISH since my local networks weren't available. On December 1, 2006 a new law went into effect that prohibits DirectTV and DISH from providing distant network coverage. I've filed waiver requests, but they'll most likely be denied by the local affiliates. DISH sent someone out to install a free OTA antenna, but too many tall trees + too far from town = no reception. To get my local channels I'll need a high powered amplified directional tower antenna ($800-$1000)....that's not gonna happen!

The guy that evaluated the antenna setup gave me a completely *hypothetical* tip on how to get my distant network coverage back from DISH. *Hypothetically* I'd say it works, but of course I *haven't* tried it!

I'll send you a PM with the *hypothetical* details.

[Juneaudave]

I've had DirectTV for 10 years, and get East and West coast feeds. That's great because if two shows I want to watch come on at the same time, I can watch the first on the East coast feed and then watch the second later on the West coash feed.

We now get local channels. If I were to upgrade equipment to receive HDTV, DirectTV told me I would have to lose the networks and pick up locals.

[bledsoe3]

You could go with cable TV to get your local channels.

[Ira]

Dean, have you called the local network affiliates in your area? They may be able to help you.

From what I understand, this was an FCC and/or court decision a few years ago--that the satellite providers were REQUIRED to offer the local channels.

But do you guys actually have to pay EXTRA for this?

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Ira,
Here's what I know... In my area, Dish Network customers had local channels, but "lost" them. Directv customers were promised local channels, but that promise was never met.
Local Channels are part of the basic package with Direct TV. Directv touts that 94% of the nation gets local channels through Directv... 6% don't and being part of the 6%, if approved, I will get Distant Network Coverage. I will have to pay $1.50 per month, per channel... Six bucks each month if approved by all four networks.

Here's what I've "heard"... "Local" advertisers are the ones that shot down the local channels thing. They don't want people like me watching a network located in another part of the country and miss the local adds.
I've also heard that our local market isn't big enough for Directv to do what they have to do to give us local channels. My best guess is that it's because of the allmighty buck... Either local advertisers not willing to lose potential bucks, or Directv not willing to spend them on such a small remote market.

[forestfrog]

You could go with cable TV to get your local channels.

At least in my situation, there's no cable TV available where I live. No cable, no high-speed internet (except satellite $$$$), and no local channels.
I also have no neighbors, no noise, and no homeowners association telling me how to run my life, so the tradeoff is worth it, LOL!

But do you guys actually have to pay EXTRA for this?

I was paying $6/month extra to get NBC, FOX, ABC, and CBS out of Dallas. If DISH/DirectTV carried my local channels out of Alexandria, the cost should be similar. Right now, we're not a "big enough market" to warrant local coverage.

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Yaa... It really sucks to be the "little guy" sometimes, but I'll bet that the "big guys" never have their satellite go out each morning when large flocks of Canadian Geese fly by.
(Two mornings in a row)

[Et Cetera]

Check with DISH, see what they will offer and then go back to DirecTV and see if they can up the ante.

[Nitetimes]

Yaa... It really sucks to be the "little guy" sometimes, but I'll bet that the "big guys" never have their satellite go out each morning when large flocks of Canadian Geese fly by.
(Two mornings in a row)

Satellite is impressing you with it's versatility already is it? You know if you tilt that thing flat on it's back and fill it with water those geese will stop for a drink and say hi.

[dmb90260]

Call and complain, tell them it was not fully explained to you. Tell them anything, the techie on the phone just wants you to go away and a simple switch will get him that and he get credit for satisfying a customer. Those kind of switches are simple for them to do and cost them nothing. When I first got on DirecTv they did not offer the NFL package for that year. The next week or so it was offered free with a new sign-up. I called and told them I would have waited the two weeks if I had known. I got the package immediately, free for the year.

Given a choice you may prefer the "big market" stations. You will be able to receive them across the country, this is not true of the smaller market packages. I had the LA stations from my house to New Jersey this Fall, and on the way back home too.

Good luck

[Ira]

Here's what I've "heard"... "Local" advertisers are the ones that shot down the local channels thing.

Doesn't make sense, because this sounds like its contrary to the FCC ruling:

You have to be "served" by TV broadcasting, and by not having your local channels available with local news and programming, you're not being "served." And since you can't get all of the local stations via regular broadcast, you're again not being served.

I would call a local newspaper to inquire about this crap. That's what they get paid for.

Or call Arnold.

[Kevin A]

Deano,

Don't you have the communications tower still standing outside your fire house? Stick a TV antenna on it and run the coax down to an A/B switch with the other leg of the A/B switch connected to your Direct TV receiver.

[Ma3tt]

Unplug the whole pile of crap! It gives you about 8+/- more hours a week and $30 a month. Thats what we did. Of course I have no idea what is going on in the real world, what is American Idol? When is the Super Bowl? Nascar? I missed the state of the union, (I'll assume it is still stay the course! I'm betting 22,000 more chips in the war on terror, less taxes, I'm telling the truth etc......) Gotta go my soaps are on (bathtime).