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Frequently Asked Questions about Local Channels
Why aren't locals provided for more cities?
It comes down to capacity. The satellites have limited capacity, so the providers are going to leverage it to provide these local channels where there will be the most impact (i.e., larger cities).
Why don't they just carry fewer local channels in some cities, so they can offer my local channels?
This is because of the Federal Communications Commission's must-carry rule. Basically, as of January 1, 2002, if a satellite provider transmits one local channel for a city, they must transmit them all.
I grew up in Philadelphia, but now live in Seattle. Can I get the Philadelphia locals?
No. The transmission area is determined by a city's Designated Market Area (DMA), and Federal law. Each location is assigned to one DMA, and that determines what local channels you get. Another reason is that local network affiliates don't want to be competing against each other.
I live near a qualifying city, but would like to confirm that I am eligible for locals.
Send us an email and we'll check it out for you.
Locals aren't available where I live. What choices do I have?
For most people, the answer is an over-the-air antenna, or a 'lifeline' cable subscription that provides local channels. If you are "unserved", as defined by federal law, you may qualify to receive Network feeds from New York and/or Los Angeles. You can check your eligibility for these distant networks for DIRECTV or Dish Network here.
I really want CW or MyNetworkTV, but locals are not available where I live, or these networks are not offered in my area. Do I have any other options?
Dish Network offers a SuperStations package for $5.99 per month. This package includes 5 channels. KTLA (Los Angeles), WPIX (New York) and KWGN (Denver) are all CW affiliates, while WSBK (Boston) is an independent network and WWOR (New York) is part of MyNetworkTV. Note that the first 3 channels were formerly WB affiliates, while the last two were affiliated with UPN.
I travel in an RV (or am a trucker), so obviously I am not in a local area. What options do I have?
The rules have changed in this area, and are now somewhat more restrictive. You can only get the Distant Network Feeds from New York and Los Angeles. To meet Federal requirements, you will have to provide several pieces of documentation, including photocopies of your vehicle registration, commercial driver's license (if applicable) and a Mobile Vehicle Affidavit.
Are all these rules and restrictions the same for both DIRECTV and Dish Network?
Yes. However, Dish Network qualifies people based on their specific street address, while DIRECTV uses zip code. 99.9% of the time the result is the same, but there are occasionally differences for people who live right on the border between two market areas.
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