On directv's website they have a page talking about neighboring local channels & let's you search by zip code, dma, & call station letters. Does this mean that in the future people can receive local channels from another market besides the one they're in? I know I would like to receive local channels from the bay area but currently i'm getting Sacramento channels.

On directv's website they have a page talking about neighboring local channels & let's you search by zip code, dma, & call station letters. Does this mean that in the future people can receive local channels from another market besides the one they're in? I know I would like to receive local channels from the bay area but currently i'm getting Sacramento channels.

No. You can only get the OTA channels in your local market.

No. You can only get the OTA channels in your local market.

Actually the revised SHVERA "allows" for DBS to provide significantly more "locals" than DirecTV seems willing to provide. But, since they've only implemented a handful of "neighboring markets", I assume they (DirecTV) don't want to open up that can of worms.

IIRC, SHERVA allows DSS to compete on the same playing field as cable. If the predominant cable system carries local channels from more than one market, DSS is allowed to supply the same channels. Again, that's if I remember correctly.

Again, that's if I remember correctly.

You do. They are.

I assume they (DirecTV) don't want to open up that can of worms.

That would be my guess. Plus DirecTV has to negotiate with many of these affiliates for transmission rights. So they could have it part of the contract to not carry neighboring affiliates.

Network affiliates are guaranteed market exclusivity for their primary service area. A cable system in Cincinnati can't carry network affiliates from Dayton and vice versa. However, a cable system in, say, Middletown can carry affiliates from both cities as it's not in the primary service area for either market and/or there's overlap. DSS customers in Middletown would then be allowed to have the same channel set as what the local cable company offers. But if you're in a primary service area (like I am) and you want an alternate set of affiliates (like I do) then your best bet is OTA. A nice shotgun yagi and I get Toledo as well as Detroit. No rules against that.

Cable companies can carry out-of-market stations if they black out network and syndicated programs that are also carried on a local station. Here in Bakersfield we get several Los Angeles stations on Bright House cable. About 2/3 of the time the L.A. channels are blacked out. We get the L.A. stations' local news, sports, old movies, dyndicated shows that no local station airs, and any network shows that are preempted by the local station. It seems that there is no reason a satellite provider couldn't do the same thing. They already do sports blackouts, network and syndex blackouts should be just as easy to do.

Wasn't there a provision in SHVERA regarding "significantly viewed" out of market stations?

If you read the last few pages of the Erie, PA local HDTV reception thread, it looks like all of the Cleveland locals are carried in Erie, although I don't think they publicize this and they can only be received via QAM, not via the cable box. Is this something the cable company can do or are do they just not care to delete the Cleveland signals in Erie since there apparently isn't any chance of enforcement?

Wasn't there a provision in SHVERA regarding "significantly viewed" out of market stations?


Yes ... already covered above.


... although I don't think they publicize this and they can only be received via QAM, not via the cable box.

Probably a technical oversight ... I'm sure if it's not available on the cable box, then the CC did not intend to deliver those stations.

I always wondered about this issue. If I were to switch back to Comcast, I would receive both San Francisco and Sacramento locals since I live about midway between them. But since I am with D*, I can only get Sacto. locals. Why are the rules different for Cable and Sat?

Why are the rules different for Cable and Sat?

They aren't ... anymore ... the problem is that the DBS companies are either unwilling (or are technologically unable) to implement the "significantly viewed stations" portion of SHVERA. DirecTV actually started to do this in a few markets but the process appears to have stalled.

Remember SHVERA authorizes, but it does not mandate "significantly viewed stations."

The Erie cable system probably serves part of the Cleveland DMA from the same headend. That would explain why both locals are in clear QAM. I am assuming the out of market locals aren't available in analog. There are apparently many cable systems doing the same thing around the country. As clear QAM tuners become more common, stations are going to realize that this is happening and demand that the cable company stop it.