DIRECTV Transponder Map ~ Data 5/1/2024

[DirecTVFanSince2016]

Those changes were already mentioned by KyL in the 231018 analysis (the other markets you mentioned) and 231011 (Zanesville).

 

[Tom Speer]

Those changes were already mentioned by KyL in the 231018 analysis (the other markets you mentioned) and 231011 (Zanesville).

You're right. These are showing up as new APG objects, I will have to figure out why.

 

[KyL416]

New P/I channel in test 375 "Blossom" using LINK's former 101 slot with a placeholder description

Some more information, Blossom TV will be a new channel that focuses on DIY/craft from First Media, who's also behind Babyfirst and So Yummy.

 

[DirecTVFanSince2016]

Blossom/375 is out of test mode and is live as of today. As of right now it just has generic listings (24 hour “Blossom” blocks from 6am-6am).
The NOTES_1 description also now reads:

Join us and let our TV programs be your guide to 'Do life better' with Blossom. We’re here to help you tackle life head on, confidently and creatively.

 

[Mr Tony]

Not on directv stream

 

[KyL416]

It's a P/I obligation channel, so it's not coming to stream unless they sign a seperate deal covering Stream/Internet and U-Verse like Babyfirst and C-SPAN did.

 

[savarese04]

about how many channels are we looking at with that batch of SD LIL removals? this feels like one of the largest batches we've seen in quite some time (ever?)

 

[KyL416]

It's kind of hard to automatically calculate how many feeds will be removed as several of those markets are affected by disputes so they're all pointing to the same TID/PID combo instead of their spotbeam slot, along with national remaps that won't be going away like "COOL" for markets without a LIL 2, and PBSNET and CWPlus for Zanesville.

A rough estimate record wise is 284 removals, this also includes any SigView SD stations from neighboring markets, Zanesville where everything except NBC and FOX are Columbus imports, along with Norfolk, Paducah, Richmond and Roanoke whose main locals are on 119. There's also some SigView quirks where the home market has an alert but not the SV markets, like Denver who has an alert, while Albuquerque is on 119 but has some counties that get neighboring Denver locals doesn't, so the number is likely higher.


One interesting thing is the new LIL channels in test mode. Like WPHL-D2 for Philly (who has a warning) is being added as MPEG-4 only, while the "new" WTVK/59 for the Chicago DMA is being added in both HD and SD, so it looks like at least Chicago will survive the SD spotbeam purge. NYC and LA are probably safe too because their Big 4 SD stations and KTLA double as DNS feeds.

They still have a way to go before they can convert the 101 spotbeam TPNs to national, so unless additional markets like Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, Phoenix, Birmingham, Houston, Dallas, DC and/or Baltimore get INFO channels in the next week, it probably won't happen until spring.

 

[slice1900]

One interesting thing is the new LIL channels in test mode. Like WPHL-D2 for Philly (who has a warning) is being added as MPEG-4 only, while the "new" WTVK/59 for the Chicago DMA is being added in both HD and SD, so it looks like at least Chicago will survive the SD spotbeam purge. NYC and LA are probably safe too because their Big 4 SD stations and KTLA double as DNS feeds.

They still have a way to go before they can convert the 101 spotbeam TPNs to national, so unless additional markets like Detroit, Minneapolis, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, Phoenix, Birmingham, Houston, Dallas, DC and/or Baltimore get INFO channels in the next week, it probably won't happen until spring.

Well Chicago is #3 in DMA size and Philly is #4 so that seems like it would be an odd place to make the cutoff of MPEG2 DMAs that will survive vs those that will be cut.

WPHL-D2 looks like an Antenna TV subchannel, or at least that's what Wikipedia and rabbitears say. Maybe that's why it was only added in MPEG4 versus a primary channel in Chicago?

As you say though, still a long way to go.

 

[DirecTVFanSince2016]

WPHL-D2 looks like an Antenna TV subchannel

It is, but they pre-empt Antenna TV programming to carry MyNetworkTV.

 

[dishrich]

WPHL-D2 looks like an Antenna TV subchannel, or at least that's what Wikipedia and rabbitears say.

It's being added because when WPHL's primary channel switched from being MNT to CW in September, they moved MNT prog over to the D2 sub, which will pre-empt Antenna TV during that time.

 

[Tom Speer]

That makes me ask, have you ever worked for anything to do with AT&T or DirecTV?

I noticed tonight as I was testing some software changes that new Guide INFO items are up for individual channels in Columbus OH, Indianapolis, Norfolk, Orlando, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Tampa and Zanesville that say:

"Act Fast! You will lose your local channels soon! Call 855-930-1640 today to schedule your technician appointment for a no cost equipment replacement!"

What I noticed last Thursday was that they added many additional INFO Guide entries for those markets. For instance for Columbus, they put SD INFO Guide entries on channels 4-9, 6-9, and 34-9. D9S has less than 6 months to live, so Ku band spot beams have to go away by then. Some DMAs will probably continue with SD duplicates after that, using National beams from D16 on the current Spot beam TPN frequencies.

 

[DirecTVFanSince2016]

For instance for Columbus, they put SD INFO Guide entries on channels 4-9, 6-9, and 34-9

Makes sense, as they all actually exist as local area channels (4 is their NBC affiliate WCMH, 6 is ABC WSYX, 34 is PBS WOSU).
That also means they don’t seem to be joking around when they say they’re going to turn off your SD locals. The fact they’re using multiple channel positions just lets us know that they really want those spotbeams outta here!

 

[Tom Speer]

Makes sense, as they all actually exist as local area channels (4 is their NBC affiliate WCMH, 6 is ABC WSYX, 34 is PBS WOSU).
That also means they don’t seem to be joking around when they say they’re going to turn off your SD locals. The fact they’re using multiple channel positions just lets us know that they really want those spotbeams outta here!

There was one last Wednesday on channel 9.9, that still remains. 9 is their CBS station.

 

[DirecTVFanSince2016]

Nope, CBS is actually channel 10 (WBNS). I believe 9 is their Fox station WSYX-D3.

 

[KyL416]

CINE 178-181 are in test mode using spare space on 101 TPNs 8 and 17

CINE 178-181 are now live

 

[doctor J]

DirecTV Satellite Transponder Updates for Dec 20 2023

Comparison of Transponder Data for Dec 20 2023 vs Dec 13 2023:


No changes in system tables for any transponder tuning parameters.

Changes to the use of defined transponders:


2 Previously unused Transponders with current APG records::
Net 15 TID 13 Beam NAT is a National Transponder on D12@103ca, TPN 14
Net 10 TID 127 Beam NAT is a National Transponder on D11@99cb, TPN 4

Stream (PID) counts:

LIVE Streams​	National​		Spot Beams​
	Count​	Change​	Count​	Change​
4K​	4​	​	​	​
HD​	273​	1​	1382​	​
SD mpeg4​	140​	-1​	193​	​
SD mpeg2​	398​	5​	417​	​
RB​	​	​	​	​
Audio​	89​	​	​	​
Push​	31​	​	​	​
Slate​	21​	​	1​	​
​

TEST Streams​	National​		Spot Beams​
	Count​	Change​	Count​	Change​
4K​	​	​	​	​
HD​	1​	​	15​	​
SD mpeg4​	​	​	7​	​
SD mpeg2​	​	-5​	1​	​
RB​	​	​	​	​
Engr Work​	67​	15​	2​	​
​

The PID count Excel workbook provides much more count detail.

Newly updated tables of Streams on each transponder are available in the DataDigesters TPN Grids

More details of changes in individual channels will follow in the Weekly Analysis
and Gary Toma's Domestic TPN Map Excel files
DIRECTV not ready to take a Christmas break yet!
About 21 info LIL notices in 8 markets along with NBC E or W *TEST in about 65 markets ? SD shutdown
Weekly Analysis soon.
Enjoy
Happy Holidays
DataDigesters

 

[doctor J]

Weekly Analysis for 12/20/2023:

 

[KyL416]

In addition to Blossom going live on 375 and CINE 178-181 going live, the additional INFO channels that Tom mentioned are for Columbus, Indianapolis, Norfolk, Orlando, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Tampa and Zanesville, so it looks like they will be the first to go.

Feeds of NBC East and West are in test on the .9s of Tegna's NBC stations. This feed carries NBC Network programming and filler from MSNBC, CNBC, NBC News Now and Golf Channel. NBC East is using what used to be CINEHD 160, NBC West is using what last had 321 1+1 International. Considering how the laws currently are for locals for satellite, these might never go live for regular residential satellite subscribers and be limited to business/lodging.

379 has finally been relabeled to FAITH after Faith TV USA tookover Living Faith's satellite distribution almost 2 months ago. The notes field still says Living Faith.

9753 Protection Plan now live
9754 and 9756 *PEACOCK in test for a slate about the 12/23 Peacock NFL game that you can get with DIRECTV's discount (with the caveat that it is impossible to upgrade to ad free premium plus if you take the discount offer)
9759 *GEMINI back in test mode

Prep for more transponder rebalancing on D11 and D12, with the D11/TPN 14 channels moving to the recently vacated TPN 4 and the D12/TPN 23 channels moving to the recently vacated TPN 14

 

[DirecTVFanSince2016]

Feeds of NBC East and West are in test on the .9s of Tegna's NBC stations

It's not just Tegna NBC stations getting such channel. It also seems to be on Gray-owned NBC stations. I'm seeing test records for it in Albany (GA), Alexandria, Anchorage, Augusta, Charleston (WV), etc and Gray owns NBC in all of those mentioned markets.