Seattle, WA - DBS

I'm pretty sure it's Mpeg-2 content with Mpeg-4 headers...

-Derek-

Well, Hdsportsguide says the Mariners/Rangers game was to be broadcast in HD. I have D* and I can't find it on any HD channel. What's up with that???

Directv announced 8 more cities that will recieve HD networks and Seattle was left out again. Seattle Metro is the 12th (some say 13th) largest DMA and Directv now has 20 cities recieving HD.

Seattle will be sometime in June ...contractual concerns I guess with the affiliate networks.
Got my A9 and H20 last week.

Anyone know the range (distance) of Seattle HD in MPEG 4 format from D*?

I sent emails to KCPQ, KOMO and KSTW yesterday asking when we can expect them added to the DIRECTV local HD lineup.

I have not received a response from KSTW, but here's what the other two had to say.

From KOMO (Wednesday, August 23, 2006 3:56:30 PM)
"Fisher and Direct TV are currently in negotiations...should be soon."

From KCPQ (Wednesday, August 23, 2006 4:24:29 PM)
"Our parent Corp. just this month (August 1) successfully executed a "Re-Transmission" agreement with Direct TV to include our Seattle based DTV stations, KCPQ & KMYQ to the local Seattle HD line up. Our best guess is it will take at least 30 days to integrate these additional channels into the Satellite/Transponder uplink system.

Thank you for your interest in our stations.

KCPQ TV & KMYQ TV
Tribune Television Northwest"

So it's looking good to have 4, 5, 7 & 13 online soon. Would be nice to have 11 with Smallville, etc.; but I'm betting we don't see them until next year.

That's the most info I've seen up to now. Have you heard any updates?

Paul

I had the same information a month ago and emailed both KOMO and KCPQ yesterday to see what was happening (I can't get either of these OTA). Someone at KCPQ is trying to get me more information (no response from KOMO yet). There was a message from someone at KSTW on the Seattle OTA forum mentioning that he is trying to get them added.

I received an email from KOMO yesterday. Sounds like they are still in negotiations, something to do with re-transmitting all sub-channels (Some sort of local news channel) and the spiel about how the FCC requires that all digital channels be re-transmitted by the providers. Not sure why DirecTV has this problem, but DISH does not. Does DISH Network have to carry this extra digital sub-channel when it exists. I don't believe the KOMO news sub-channel exists yet. Probably they will not transmit it in HD even if they do finally support it. Quite frankly, I'm not sure why it would be necessary to transmit these local news channels or other channels such as the KING TV 5-2 SeaTac channel for that matter (what a waste).

I'm still waiting for a reply from KCPQ-FOX (13). I can probably live without ABC until they start the new season of Lost, but I really would like to see the Hawks in High Def. Hopefully the answer is better.

Has anyone emailed the new CW network in seattle to see if they are going to be broadcast in HD. There are other cities where DirecTV has already activated this station.

There was something on the Seattle HD OTA forum:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...page=160&pp=30

Update: I emailed KSTW and they are in discussions with DirecTV, but nothing definite yet.

Anyone heard anything new on D* geting KCPQ or KOMO?

Paul

Heres are the latest email responses I've received from KOMO & KCPQ. I'm sending them an email about every other week asking about when they will be on D*

---------------------------------------------------------------
Date: October 2, 2006 8:46:50 AM PDT
Subject: RE: KCPQ in HDTV on DIRECTV?

The latest information from our corporate lawyers is that there is a
"Re-Transmission" agreement between our parent Broadcast Group & Direct TV
for local into local HD service, but currently the paperwork is being
reviewed by both parties. Further more, when the legal document is executed
there will be a period of time required for Direct to re-work their
technical infrastructure and facilitate many more digital HD streams of
content across the country.

We want to assure you that money is not the issue here. A Re-Transmission
agreement is required for one entity to re-broadcast another's content. For
us, we want to make sure they re-broadcast our analog and digital main
program feeds, and also the digital sub channels containing data etc. as
well. For the Satellite operators it's a matter of available bandwidth
(space for more content) in their systems.

On the local side we want this to happen as quickly as possible, but must
allow the corporate entities to handle this. We think we are close with
Direct as the agreements negotiated are currently in review by both sides.
We are still in talks with Dish/Echostar.

KCPQ TV & KMYQ TV
Tribune Television Northwest

---------------------------------------------------------------
Date: October 2, 2006 9:32:44 AM PDT
From: DonW@FSCI.com
Subject: RE: KOMO 4 in HDTV on DIRECTV?
Cc: TerriB@komotv.com

Thank you for your interest in KOMO's digital programming.

Negotiations with DirecTV for retransmission are under way and should be completed shortly. We would also like to get this wrapped up so that our HDTV programs are available to DirecTV customers.

Best regards,

Don Wilkinson
Fisher Communications
KOMO-TV, KOMO-DT

Now I see why it is taking so long--they got the lawyers involved!

Any new information on KOMO, KCPQ and KSTW in HD? It looks like we'll miss out on the World Series (hopefully not the whole NFL season).

I live in Port Angeles and switched to WAVE Cable last spring. The best part of the switch is getting the PBS HDTV channel.

Yeah, there's some nice stuff there, altough there are a lot of repeats now that they are 24/7. I can receive it OTA but hopefully Directv will add it when they get the new satellites up next year (right now I'd settle for KCPQ and KOMO).

I asked the question to the CW Network regarding carriage of KSTW DT in HD on D* or Direct and was told it is simply a matter of satellite capacity. The DBS companies only have capacity to do HD for a few signals from certain markets. I was told new satellites with capacity to carry all Seattle-Tacoma market OTA DT stations won't be up until mid 2007.

R.Diotte
CE, KSTW-TV/DT

[quote=rdiotte]I asked the question to the CW Network regarding carriage of KSTW DT in HD on D* or Direct and was told it is simply a matter of satellite capacity. The DBS companies only have capacity to do HD for a few signals from certain markets. I was told new satellites with capacity to carry all Seattle-Tacoma market OTA DT stations won't be up until mid 2007.

I realize there are bandwidth issues, but most areas where DTV has HD locals have 3-5 stations carried, not just two: http://www.dbstalk.com/hr20/html/DIRECTV_lil_list.html

The new satellites will have sufficient capacity for both locals (possibly including subchannels) and additional national HD channels.

Does anyone have an update as to when Directv will carry KOMO and KCPQ in HD?

Although it would be nice to have CW, I would really like Directv to roll out at least the originally promised stations.

I agree. Everytime someone gets an email from one of the stations, the answer is always "soon". Must be a fairly large definention of "soon".

I realize that the KCPQ situation is complex because Tribune is (hopefully) trying to work out a solution for all of their stations, but KOMO is locally owned (and has been in HD on Dish for quite a while). I have a feeling that those at the stations either 1) don't really know or 2) aren't allowed to say. I saw something the other day implying Tribune might be for sale, which further complicates that one.

Looking at http://www.dbstalk.com/hr20/html/DIRECTV_lil_list.html, it appears that Directv carries 7 markets with 5 locals in HD, 25 with 4, 8 with 3 and 5 markets (including Seattle-Tacoma) with only 2 HD locals. There are several CW and MyNetwork locals carried (fewer than ABC, NBC, CBS or Fox) and one independent is carried in HD. No DMAs have all six networks.

It could be that they are reserving space for when they finally come to terms with KOMO and KCPQ and don't have enough bandwidth for any more. The markets with 5 networks are all larger than Seattle, but it still looks like we are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to HD on Directv.

Receive the following replies from KOMO and KCPQ:


KOMO:
"Sorry. I just have not been able to get any additional information. I also would like to get this wrapped up."

KCPQ:
"Legal activity is still in process on national Satellite Re-Transmission local into local HD agreements with Direct & Dish.
Again sorry for the delays, but as already stated, this is out of our hands.
"

I was about to ping KOMO and KCPQ again. I won't bother now. This situation is ridiculous!

It is tough to understand. There are so many cities with all four of the biggies, it's hard to believe that there are any significant legal ramifications that haven't already been figured out.

Tribune is supposedly up for sale and I suspect the lawyers have bigger issues than HD via satellite to worry about. Someone on dbsforums posted that for Sacramento's Fox station (also Tribune) everything was set up and Directv was waiting for a goahead before throwing the switch.

Here's the latest email that I received from KCPQ. Sounds like good news, but so did some of the earlier posts. Hopefully it will happen this weekend. I remain cautiously optimistic...

"It's looking real good to get the deal done and maybe Direct is all set to receive us in Seattle, my information said that maybe we'd be on as early as this weekend, but anything can happen, but at least there seems to be progress and I would assume if not this weekend, certainly in the next few weeks.

Keep your fingers crossed."

That IS encouraging. Here's hoping!!

I saw an E* ad in the Seattle Times yesterday that showed FOX as one of the local HD channels that are available. Is it coming soon? Watching the NFL in SD really sucks after watching the HD games on the other networks.