I can pick all these HD/Digital sub channelschannels up now with a pair of 20 year-old rabbit ears here in Greenhills.
Your TV, if it has an ATSC (digital) tuner can pick these channels up perfectly if you are just about anywhere in Hamilton, Butler, Warren and Clermont Co OH, Deeborn in Indiana, Boon, Kenton and Campbell in Kentucky. Of course the further you go out from Clifton, (where most of the TV towers are) the better the antenna you need.
I don't know if your HD DirecTV receiver has an ATSC tuner in it. But what may be happening is that, without an antenna, the receiver is getting enough signal for 5, 12 and 19 to read the channel, but not enough signal to show a picture. If you add an antenna (even a cheap rabbit ears) you should be able to get all the locals in HD
As to the "September" comment, it only applies to the new CW Network being carried on channel 12's Digital sub-channel. It had nothing to do with anyone carrying the channel anywhere.
See ya
Tony