Distant Network Shutoff on December 1st?

Yep. Da fat lady done sung.

But next year there may be some changes that will help out, but there's no stopping the 12/1 date now.
 
NO he won't - he can ONLY get NY or LA as a distant from D*... ;) ;)

Thank you. I am DirecTV-challenged. Of course, D* could change to meet the demand of E* ship jumpers. This is a corporate policy - not the law. They could offer any city as DNS.
 
I thought the House adjurned until December? No bill can pass until the house comes back in session!

See ya
Tony

No they're still around. At least pro forma. I still wouldn't expect anything unless it is absolutely non-controversial (i.e. can pass by unanimous consent/suspension of the rules).
 
Of course, D* could change to meet the demand of E* ship jumpers. This is a corporate policy - not the law. They could offer any city as DNS.

Well of course, I do understand that, JUST like E* could have continued to offer Dallas networks as distants, which they NO longer do. Considering that every distant would (as a practical measure) would have to be carried as CONUS, I GUARANTEE you D* is not all of sudden going to start sucking up CONUS bandwidth they don't have anyway to do more variety of distant cities.

And before you ask, the Chicago spotbeam will not reach up that high, so they could not even do it being (relatively) close to Chicago - about 200 miles away is about how far the Chicago spot reaches out.
 
And before you ask, the Chicago spotbeam will not reach up that high, so they could not even do it being (relatively) close to Chicago - about 200 miles away is about how far the Chicago spot reaches out.


i am asking about the green bay spotbeam. I don't care what network i get from where, the fact is i cant get any networks at all.... like i said i 'supposedly' am in range for NBC only of all those U.P. antenna signals. And i have used Antenna to try to get NBC and i can barely even get the color to come in and if ya stand 20 feet away from the television ya can almost see whats going on. NBC tends to give their waivers to people in my area because they know the reception is horrible. Their antenna is NOT on a mountain... its actually 40ft above lake superior water level and the highest point is the middle of the U.P. which basically cuts all of the posted signals out from reaching here.

I am 93 miles north of green bay and their signal reaches people living 5 miles south of escanaba which is about 130 miles north of green bay. So are ya saying in general spotbeams range is 200 miles? The guy in green bay said the spotbeam reached the middle of iowa for sure because his son used to get it when he was in college. But this is what it is, i can see the guy across the river that gets the green bay satellite networks from my house. I can yell at the guy and watch his tv with my kids telescope. LOL!. Dish network says thats exactly how far their spotbeam reaches, but it seems to me its not the spotbeam, its the fact we are in marquette DMA which is what i am trying to get changed. :)

Also i would hope dish network would make marquette into a local zone so we do get networks available up here, but that isnt going to happen in the next 5 years or so i bet. It just really really annoys me that i am and was LEGALLY able to ge t these networks and now i can;t. I would have never signed a contract with dish network if i had known anything about this. I mean we almost didnt get it because you cant get NBC for several months most likely, but we did. Now i am stuck in a contract for 15 more months. :(

Also, is it true that directv no longer allows distant networks for new customers?
 
I got this e-mail from Hillary Clinton today :

Dear :



Thank you for contacting me to share
your concerns regarding Dish Network TV's
provision of distant network programming, a
television service by which certain satellite
television subscribers receive network
programming from out-of-market areas. As you
may know, in October a District Court judge in
Florida issued an injunction requiring Dish
Network TV to terminate all of its distant network
programming no later than December 1, 2006. It
is my hope that all those with a legal right to
distant network programming can continue to
receive it.



The court order was the result of a lawsuit brought
against Dish Network's parent company, EchoStar
Communications Corporation, by the major
broadcast networks. NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox
claimed that Dish Network had been illegally
providing distant network programming to some
of its subscribers. According to the Satellite Home
Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 , only those
without any other means of accessing network
television, such as over-the-air broadcasting, cable
or "local-into-local" satellite service, are eligible to
receive distant network programming.



I share your concerns that this sudden loss of
service could leave some New Yorkers,
particularly those in rural areas, without any access
to the broadcast network television that is an
important source of news, entertainment and
public safety information. I have conveyed this
message to my colleagues on the Senate
Commerce Committee who have jurisdiction over
satellite and telecommunications issues. I hope
that they move to address this imminent problem
in the very near future. Please be assured that I
will continue to monitor the situation and work
with my colleagues to bring about an expeditious
and satisfactory resolution.


Again, thank you for writing to me about an issue
that is important to you and to many other New
Yorkers . For updates on this issue and other
matters being discussed before the United States
Senate, please visit my website at
http://clinton.senate.gov .


Sincerely,

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
 
I got this e-mail from Hillary Clinton today :

"According to the Satellite Home
Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 , only those
without any other means of accessing network
television, such as over-the-air broadcasting, cable
or "local-into-local" satellite service, are eligible to
receive distant network programming. "

After I read that, it took me a while to stop laughing... only the government would tout a law that places artificial constraints on my TV viewing as a "Satellite Home
Viewer IMPROVEMENT Act".
 
i am asking about the green bay spotbeam. I don't care what network i get from where

Well this reply was intended for TRz, since HE brought up about you getting Chicago distant from D*, which obviously won't happen - I figured YOU didn't really care where. ;)

NBC tends to give their waivers to people in my area because they know the reception is horrible.

STILL doesn't matter for E* - unless they are able to get their injunction changed, you won't be able to get ANY distant NBC from E*, unless they start providing your actual Marquette locals.

I am 93 miles north of green bay and their signal reaches people living 5 miles south of escanaba which is about 130 miles north of green bay. So are ya saying in general spotbeams range is 200 miles?

No, I'm not saying that at all - I was ONLY saying the Chicago spotbeam on D* goes about (actually under) 200 miles. (again, answering TRz...) And on E*, the big 4 networks in Chicago are on CONUS beam, (which is why you are getting it NOW) while the rest of Chicago is on a spot beam, but which seems to be a little larger than D*'s spot. Again, if E* can't overturn their injunction, they may end up moving those 4 Chicago nets to spot beam as well.
Individual spot beam sizes vary between both E* & D*, and from market to market - some markets have spot beams larger than Chicago's, some has smaller ones.

The guy in green bay said the spotbeam reached the middle of iowa for sure because his son used to get it when he was in college. But this is what it is, i can see the guy across the river that gets the green bay satellite networks from my house. I can yell at the guy and watch his tv with my kids telescope. LOL!. Dish network says thats exactly how far their spotbeam reaches, but it seems to me its not the spotbeam

It's NOT - if it WAS, your neighbor would (obviously) NOT be able to get them.
If you were to "move" to Green Bay, you could have ALL of them just like your neighbor with a 5 min phone call. :D ;)

we are in marquette DMA which is what i am trying to get changed.

You are NOT going to be getting this changed probably as long as you live - you have a better chance of winning the lottery TWICE! :eek:

Also i would hope dish network would make marquette into a local zone so we do get networks available up here, but that isnt going to happen in the next 5 years or so i bet.

Probably not, but actually, since it appears your market has actual locals for ALL 4 main nets, you have a MUCH better chance than the 1-2 network markets such as St.Joe, MO. :eek: ;)

Also, is it true that directv no longer allows distant networks for new customers?

No, not true at all - but they have always had more "stringent qualifications" than E* does. BUT, the problem in your area is, D* can ONLY give you distant networks (NY &/or LA only) for those specific networks that you are NOT in a grade B area.
If you want to check your address, here's a link to do so:

http://directvdnseligibility.decisionmark.com/app/AddressForm.aspx

If this says NO to distants, ain't gonna do you much good to switch to D*. ;)

Now if I was in your position, I'd just "move" to Green Bay & get their locals with no muss or fuss. I would imagine they GOTTA be better than yours anyway, sight unseen. :eek: Others on here think it's just a totally DASTARDLY deed to cheat on those poor, local networks of yours - YOU have to decide for yourself... :cool:
 
No, not true at all - but they have always had more "stringent qualifications" than E* does. BUT, the problem in your area is, D* can ONLY give you distant networks (NY &/or LA only) for those specific networks that you are NOT in a grade B area.
If you want to check your address, here's a link to do so:

http://directvdnseligibility.decisionmark.com/app/AddressForm.aspx

If this says NO to distants, ain't gonna do you much good to switch to D*. ;)

Now if I was in your position, I'd just "move" to Green Bay & get their locals with no muss or fuss. I would imagine they GOTTA be better than yours anyway, sight unseen. :eek: Others on here think it's just a totally DASTARDLY deed to cheat on those poor, local networks of yours - YOU have to decide for yourself... :cool:


Standard Distant Network Service
NetworkAffiliateChannelStatus
ABC Eligible
CBS Eligible
FOX Eligible
NBC WLUC6 Grade B (moderate signal)
PBS Eligible
Digital (HD) Distant Network Service
NetworkAffiliateStatus
ABC Eligible
CBS Eligible
FOX Eligible
NBC WLUC-DT Grade B (moderate signal)


thats what i am eligible for here with D* and same for E*. I suppose if D* offers me 200 bux to switch i will because my contract buyout is like $225.
It's just been theres so much disinformation about this being put out mostly by dish network its ridiculous.

They are saying D* will have to cancel all their Distant networks as well.


ANd thanx for the info guys...
 
Last edited:
Network Affiliate > Channel Status
ABC Eligible
CBS WAGM 8 Grade A (strong signal)
FOX Eligible
NBC Eligible
PBS Eligible

The interesting thing is that DISH is currently giving me CBS New York........probably why they are in so much trouble :)

I'd love to watch my local CBS but it is not on the SAT so I can't use my PVR and it is such a pain to switch back and forth between the SAT and standard TV.......
 
- I live in northern Maine, and thankfully still have my E&W DNS.
- If/when DiSH gets Bangor locals, I presume my DNS will be shut-off??
- The DirectTV site shows me as DNS eligible, except for ABC which I could seek a waiver for (see below):

Network Affiliate Channel Status
ABC WVII 7 Grade B (moderate signal)
CBS Eligible
FOX Eligible
NBC Eligible
PBS Eligible

Digital (HD) Distant Network Service
Network Affiliate Status
ABC WVII-DT Grade B (moderate signal)
CBS Eligible
FOX Eligible
NBC Eligible

- My question is: Assuming that the Satellite Consumer Protection Act passes and my DNS are "saved", then 6 months later DiSH starts Bangor locals and I'm cut-off DNS, can I get HD DNS even if I don't have an HD programming package or an HD box? i.e. If I feed HD DNS through a standard non-HD DiSH receiver, would I simply receive HD DNS in SD?? Otherwise, I'm hoping DiSH nixes Bangor locals, so I don't lose my DNS.
 
i am asking about the green bay spotbeam. I don't care what network i get from where, the fact is i cant get any networks at all.... like i said i 'supposedly' am in range for NBC only of all those U.P. antenna signals. And i have used Antenna to try to get NBC and i can barely even get the color to come in and if ya stand 20 feet away from the television ya can almost see whats going on. NBC tends to give their waivers to people in my area because they know the reception is horrible. Their antenna is NOT on a mountain... its actually 40ft above lake superior water level and the highest point is the middle of the U.P. which basically cuts all of the posted signals out from reaching here.

I am 93 miles north of green bay and their signal reaches people living 5 miles south of escanaba which is about 130 miles north of green bay. So are ya saying in general spotbeams range is 200 miles? The guy in green bay said the spotbeam reached the middle of iowa for sure because his son used to get it when he was in college. But this is what it is, i can see the guy across the river that gets the green bay satellite networks from my house. I can yell at the guy and watch his tv with my kids telescope. LOL!. Dish network says thats exactly how far their spotbeam reaches, but it seems to me its not the spotbeam, its the fact we are in marquette DMA which is what i am trying to get changed. :)

Also i would hope dish network would make marquette into a local zone so we do get networks available up here, but that isnt going to happen in the next 5 years or so i bet. It just really really annoys me that i am and was LEGALLY able to ge t these networks and now i can;t. I would have never signed a contract with dish network if i had known anything about this. I mean we almost didnt get it because you cant get NBC for several months most likely, but we did. Now i am stuck in a contract for 15 more months. :(

Also, is it true that directv no longer allows distant networks for new customers?

Signal of Green Bay can be received in Calumet if that helps.
 
- - My question is: Assuming that the Satellite Consumer Protection Act passes and my DNS are "saved", then 6 months later DiSH starts Bangor locals and I'm cut-off DNS, can I get HD DNS even if I don't have an HD programming package or an HD box? i.e. If I feed HD DNS through a standard non-HD DiSH receiver, would I simply receive HD DNS in SD?? Otherwise, I'm hoping DiSH nixes Bangor locals, so I don't lose my DNS.

You will lose DNS within a little over a week.

HD DNS requires an HD receiver. DiSH Network does not offer HD DNS.

If you plan to have DNS, you should plan on a provider switch.
 
Last edited:
EchoStar Loses Another Court Round

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Ted Hearn 11/21/2006 12:15:00 PM

A federal judge in Florida ruled Monday that Dec. 1 will remain the date on which EchoStar Communications has to cease providing distant feeds of ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox programming to 850,000 customers.

EchoStar, citing various business-operations concerns, had asked U.S. Judge William Dimitrouleas to move the date of his injunction from Dec. 1 to April 16.

Noting that EchoStar has known since May 23 that a permanent nationwide injunction was likely, Dimitrouleas rejected the idea that the direct-broadcast satellite provider didn’t have sufficient time to cope with a shutoff.

“The time to prepare for such an outcome was months ago, when EchoStar first learned of the likelihood of entry of a nationwide injunction, not weeks before the injunction would take effect,” Dimitrouleas said in a three-page opinion.

Distant network signals originate outside the home market of subscribers. Subscribers who can view local network affiliates with antennas are barred from buying distant signals. EchoStar was found to have violated federal copyright law by selling distant network signals to hundreds of thousands of legally ineligible customers.

In the opinion, Dimitrouleas said he had already accommodated EchoStar to some degree by not imposing the injunction immediately Oct. 20.

“Therefore, no further extension of time is warranted. Any unfortunate interruption of service to EchoStar’s clients continues to be the responsibility of EchoStar,” Dimitrouleas added.

EchoStar has pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit a motion to stay the Dec. 1 injunction.
 
Losing my distant network channels

First time in this chat room - hey everybody. I am from a small (about 100 people) town in Arkansas, and live in the country on a dirt road. Satellite is our only option. I have only lived her for a year and of course have 6 more months on my Dish contract. I am so frustrated with losing my networks, but our only option was Atlanta. I am 3 hours from Memphis one way and 3 hours from Little Rock the other way and their "free antenna" did absolutely nothing. Do I have any alternatives other than going to Direct? I have called them and even they won't guarantee I'll get network channels. There is a local TV station (Jonesboro, AR) that gives us ABC and I think they have blocked any attempt for us to get channels like Memphis or Little Rock. Is there anything else out there for us besides Direct? Also, on the Dish site, they say everyone will lose there DNS except under "special circumstances". I have called and asked what those are, but they can't even tell me. I would think that someone like myself that has no alternative would be in that category. Any feedback would be appreciated.
 
. I am from a small (about 100 people) town in Arkansas, and live in the country on a dirt road. Satellite is our only option. There is a local ABC TV station (Jonesboro, AR) Any feedback would be appreciated.

The TV antennas that the satellite companies install are usually very poor. Perhaps you really can get TV from Memphis. Enter your address into www.antennaweb.org and see what type of antenna they suggest.

If you were to subscribe to DirecTV, they may give you enough of a rebate to buy out your Dish contract.

Your local ABC station can prevent the delivery of a distant ABC station. You should be able to get CBS, NBC, and FOX distant stations. In most cases, you won't get stations from nearby markets via satellite.
 

Pappas and Dish Network Come to An Agreement

E* Customer Service Ratings Drop

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 0, Members: 0, Guests: 0)

Who Read This Thread (Total Members: 1)

Latest posts