4 digit channel numbers for Locals removed/hidden

Pinchhitter

SatelliteGuys Pro
Original poster
Jul 13, 2004
340
3
Sacramento, CA
Does anyone know why the 4 digit channel numbers were removed? for example Superstation KTLA was 8004, KWGN was 8204 etc.
I know they are available in the 230's but I did like them at the 8000's because I could group them in my guide with my locals which start with channel 2.
 
My locals are still listed in the 8000's, but not the Supers. I am wondering if Dish will be doing away with the second set of channel numbers? I have always wondered why they had the two sets. Anyone know?
 
  • Like
Reactions: charlesrshell
They had two sets for mapping purposes. Basically, you have something like the Hd version in the 6000 and the SD in 8000, and then map them both down to the same number in a more customer friendly area(i.e. channel 232). It was more for aesthetic than anything else. Cox does not map, and it is a pain in the ass, even though it is just the channel number for SD and add 1000 to it for HD.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheKrell
Uh oh. Why would DISH remove only Supers from the 4 digits.

I have wondered how long the Supers would be available, as Dish quit selling them several years back. If Dish drops them, there is no where else to go to get them. Shaw in Canada still carries most of them. However, you have to have a Canadian addy or live there to get them. There are brokers (Grey Market), but that gets expensive. You cannot just sub to the Supers. You have to have a base package and then get them as an add on. So, they are toast if Dish drops them. Direct dropped them years ago and Spectrum doesn't carry them. I hope Dish continues to carry the ;package. I love having them. That is one of the reasons I went with Dish in 1999 as they had the Supers. They were going away from the big dish.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tampa8
I had the Supers when I had AEP, as well as the distant locals (which was great during NFL season), but then pricing kept going up and up, the ability to carry distant locals got axed by the feds and the Supers got too repetitive in their programming. I miss them sometimes though...
 
I had the Supers when I had AEP, as well as the distant locals (which was great during NFL season), but then pricing kept going up and up, the ability to carry distant locals got axed by the feds and the Supers got too repetitive in their programming. I miss them sometimes though...
What is the difference between the Supers and Distant Locals?
 
What is the difference between the Supers and Distant Locals?
Big difference. I know you are aware of what Supers are so I won't explain that one. Distant Locals were, I say were because they aren't available anymore, were locals from New York, Los Angeles, Denver, and two others that I can't remember. You were able to have these locals along with your regular locals or all by themselves. For example, I actually had NY and LA locals at the start of my sub back in 1998. I wasn't able to see 148 where the San Francisco locals were at the time. Later, I cut down the tree that was blocking 148 and had all three locals. I had to pay $5 each for the NY and LA locals. So, like DNC mentioned sports were great because I was able to watch NY and LA sports as well as SF sports. Another thing that was great was that I was able to watch prime time programming on from the east coast three hours earlier than it was available on the west coast. This was pre DVR days so that was more important. Alas, no more, it's just not available.
 
Big difference. I know you are aware of what Supers are so I won't explain that one. Distant Locals were, I say were because they aren't available anymore, were locals from New York, Los Angeles, Denver, and two others that I can't remember. You were able to have these locals along with your regular locals or all by themselves. For example, I actually had NY and LA locals at the start of my sub back in 1998. I wasn't able to see 148 where the San Francisco locals were at the time. Later, I cut down the tree that was blocking 148 and had all three locals. I had to pay $5 each for the NY and LA locals. So, like DNC mentioned sports were great because I was able to watch NY and LA sports as well as SF sports. Another thing that was great was that I was able to watch prime time programming on from the east coast three hours earlier than it was available on the west coast. This was pre DVR days so that was more important. Alas, no more, it's just not available.

Yes, I remember those days. I had the East/West Coast locals too. I like watching the news from different areas and I bought a Roku where there are hundreds of local station apps across the country, from most states. So I can watch the news live or on demand. It is fun to go from station to station to watch the local news teams.
 
Thanks DWS44. So is Supers so to speak the same thing as Distant Locals?

No. I think one way to look at it is this...Supers were "local" independant stations that wanted to distribute to and be made available nationally instead of just within their local market, whereas distants were sets of local network stations (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox) from a major market (NY, LA, etc) that were made available to subscribers who couldn't access their own market local channels, like Bobby was explaining a few posts earlier.
 
***

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 1, Members: 0, Guests: 1)

Who Read This Thread (Total Members: 1)