DirecTV and Local Channels...

[drrazorback]

I recently got DirecTV WITH TIVO for the first time EVER!!! I absolutely LOVE tivo and cant imagine life without it...My wife used to have tivo and when we got together, I didnt want to pay for DirecTV/Tivo...But I caved in and AM totally happy with tivo...

However, I am VERY VERY VERY unhappy with our local ABC affiliate! EVERY basketball/football/baseball/syncronized swimming event PRE-EMPTS regular programming...We are SO sick of it...A lot of our shows come on ABC!

Is there ANYTHING we can do about this?!?!?!? Or am I forced to get an external antenna and HOPE that I can pick up another ABC affiliate!?!?

Thanks for ANY help what-so-ever!

[good.deals]

Sorry drrazorback, bad news. Will be the same thing with an external antenna. It all depends on the equipment at the actual event. If they have the HD trucks at the event, you'll receive the HD broadcast, if not, you're out of luck. I actually emailed espn about it and they said NBA games will be 90% HD once football season is over (HD trucks will be freed up).

Hope this helps,
-Nathan

[drrazorback]

Im sorry, what is "HD"...Its probably something easy, but Im not discussion board knowledgable! Thanks!

[good.deals]

High Definition. I need to ask you, what exactly were you upset with? Not getting High definition?...or?

I see you mentioned ABC Pre-Empting certain programming.. what exactly do you mean?

Let me know and I'll try to help.

-Nathan

p.s. I think you mean sports event are running over into programs you want to watch, but not sure. If so, let me know which programs specifically.

[dishrich]

He's NOT talking about HD at all - he's talking his local ABC affiliate pre-empting NETWORK programming for EVERY rinky-dink LOCAL sporting event. :eek:

Dr, yes I completely sympathize with you - we have the very same problem with our local CBS AND UPN affiliate. (both are owned by Nexstar :mad: ) They constantly pre-empt network programming on BOTH stations for EVERY U or I basketball game, Jerry Lewis telethon, paid programming, etc. They even have pre-empted network prog for MOVIES they decided to substitute. Our other local ABC & NBC stations are just as bad as well.

First of all, you should be aware that even if you do put up an antenna & CAN get other affiliates, you will NOT be able to Tivo any of them. D* Tivo's can ONLY record signals through the dish & NO other sources.

There is actually a simple solution - you "move" your D* account to another local TV market, so that you can get THEIR local channels instead. Note that since all but the NY & LA big 4 nets are on spot beams, you will only at best be able to pick up alternate locals from nearby markets. But, since we do NOT know whereabouts you live, I can't tell you a good, nearby market to choose. In my case, I get Chicago locals & would NEVER think of giving them up - I get my "real" locals on broadcast basic cable, so I still get them, but have alternatives. But do understand that if you do this, you will loose your "real" local channels, as there is no way to get BOTH at the same time.

Go to dbsforums.com & search for posts on "moving" & you find out what this means... ;) ;)

[drrazorback]

Good.Deals...Thanks for the input...

DishRich is right though...EVERY little rinkydink local sports event interrupts our local ABC programming...

I have tried emailing the local ABC affiliate to complain, but I figure that equivilent to peeing on the side of their building or something...They dont care!

I am in zip code 72143, and I dont think that they allow me to get another market because they told me that I am in the Little Rock market...its VERY aggrevating because I really CANT do anything about it that I know of...Not like I can vote with my dollars on this one!

My mother has had Dish for quite a few years and gets both east and west coast channels...I WISH we could do that too, but she lives WAY out in the country and I believe that is why SHE gets a choice...

Im all ears if anyone can help! Thanks...

[cheer]

First of all, you should be aware that even if you do put up an antenna & CAN get other affiliates, you will NOT be able to Tivo any of them. D* Tivo's can ONLY record signals through the dish & NO other sources.
Just to clarify...that's only true of the standard definition DTivos. The HR10-250 high definition model can also Tivo over-the-air HD signals picked up via antenna.

[dishrich]

My mother has had Dish for quite a few years and gets both east and west coast channels...I WISH we could do that too, but she lives WAY out in the country and I believe that is why SHE gets a choice...

Im all ears if anyone can help! Thanks...

I thought I did help you :confused: :confused: you're gonna have to MOVE. (do the search, or PM me & I'll 'splain it further - I don't mean REALLY, PHYSICALLY moving to a new house ;) ;) )

I will tell you, tell your mother don't ever get rid of those E/W coast channels - once she gets rid of them, she'll never be able to get them back. The new SHIVA rules now state that if you are in a local channel market, a DBS provider may NOT sell you out of market nets. If you are anywhere in the LR market, there is no way to get E/W distant nets, hence moving is your only alternative.

[dishrich]

Just to clarify...that's only true of the standard definition DTivos. The HR10-250 high definition model can also Tivo over-the-air HD signals picked up via antenna.

Yes, I'm well aware of that (since I have one) - but the OP doesn't have one, so I don't understand why everyone keeps bringing up HD & confusing this poor new poster. :confused: ;) He asked a very, simple question about local pre-emptions - not anything to do w/HD - believe it or not, not everyone has an HD TV... ;) ;)

[drrazorback]

I guess that Congress made up the "SHIVA" rules Rich!?!? Why would they do that?

You know, its not like I can vote with my dollars to go to another affiliate...Its a monopoly and really doesnt make sense to me, but then again, a lot of things dont make sense...

Just curious though...What IS the reason behind "SHIVA" and what is it really?

Thanks...

[good.deals]

Yes, I'm well aware of that (since I have one) - but the OP doesn't have one, so I don't understand why everyone keeps bringing up HD & confusing this poor new poster. :confused: ;) He asked a very, simple question about local pre-emptions - not anything to do w/HD - believe it or not, not everyone has an HD TV... ;) ;)

"OP" ?????? You're confusing this poor new poster. :down:

[drrazorback]

We dont have HD yet! lol...

I think we are going to wait another year for the price to come down a bit! lol...

[kepper]

"OP" ?????? You're confusing this poor new poster. :down:

OP = Original Poster

[rlj5242]

However, I am VERY VERY VERY unhappy with our local ABC affiliate! EVERY basketball/football/baseball/syncronized swimming event PRE-EMPTS regular programming...We are SO sick of it...A lot of our shows come on ABC! KATV does not pre-empt regular programming for EVERY event you listed. The Arkansas Razorback Sports Network only pre-empts regular programming during basketball season. They did it six times this year and their contract for the season is over. It also looks like KATV has a contract to carry Jefferson Pilot games as well. Those are usually shown every Wednesday night and Saturday afternoon. I'm guessing it's only the Wednesday night games that are causing you grief. According to the JP schedule, you only have 5 more Wednesdays and a Friday during the SEC tournament to deal with programming changes.

When I lived in LR, they would just move the programming to later in the evening. If they are, then what is the problem? If the guide data is correct, then it will pick up the program that was pre-empted when it is shown later in the evening. My DirecTivo does that now on the few UPN shows that I watch (UPN is the JP affiliate in the Memphis market). If the guide information is not there, then you have a legitimate complaint with KATV and should give them a call. All they have to do is send their updates to the guide service (Tribune Broadcasting I think) and your problems will be solved. If all of this is happening and you are upset that you can't watch your Wednesday shows on Wednesday, then you won't get much sympathy here. Very few of us watch TV live. Most are a day behind, others catch up with their favorite programs on weekends. Some even record an entire season of shows before watching them.

And finally, with a screen name of drrazorback, you should want to watch the games! I was tempted this year to "borrow" one of my parents receivers so I could watch ARSN. I subscribe to the full sports package so I can get the Houston Nutt and Stan Heath coaches shows. As a pleasant surprise, I have recorded some Hog baseball and track shows by using an auto-record Wish List for Arkansas and Sports.

-Robert
Go Hogs, go Boll Weevils!

[drrazorback]

Hey Robert...

I dont know where you got this information, but I can PERSONALLY tell you that Sunday nights have been pre-empted a few times, Tuesday nights have been pre-empted a few times, and Monday night have been pre-empted a few times...We hardly EVER watch tv on Wed afternoon/night or Sat afternoon/night...

As far as delaying the regular programming...The guide shows the pre-empted program, then shows the nightly news! No mention of when the shows we want to watch comes on...

And, sure, a most of the pre-emptions are Razorback ballgames, but a few times have been things we really cant even figure out WHAT kind of programming they are...Almost like "paid programming" for local centers/medical places - kinda weird! Once they pre-empted showing learning centers!!!

I like Razorback football and baseball! But Basketball is a waste of my time! lol...I guess come to think of it, it WAS basketball games that were the cause of this!!!!! But there ARE other things pre-empting too though...

They dont update the guide showing a regular programming coming on later than normal...So, we always just went to another channel or went to bed!

[ttodd1]

usually in my area if a show is pre-empted the station rebrodcast it on the weekend at very odd times. You could setup a wishlist for the show and let the Tivo find out if it is brodcast at another time.

[MikeF]

Or, as stated earlier, if you don't mind having locals from somewhere else, then just "move" (also as stated, this doesn't mean really moving, but changing where DTV thinks you get your reception). Before the Colroado Springs locals were broadcast, I "moved" to the Denver area to get their locals. When Colorado Springs finally came online I "moved" back.

[rlj5242]

They dont update the guide showing a regular programming coming on later than normal...So, we always just went to another channel or went to bed! If they aren't sending their updates to the guide service then you have a legitimate complaint with the station. It's not that difficult. I have picked up the late broadcast of a pre-empted show here.

As for "moving", you only have 2 choices. A white area where you will eligible for national feeds or Memphis where you will run into the same pre-empting situations. They won't be as bad since local sports are usually on UPN but you will get the occaisional pre-empt.

-Robert

[Arkie]

I would complain if they did not show the Razorback games. Majority in Arkansas would agree.............

Go Hogs!

[gastrof]

Sorry drrazorback, bad news. Will be the same thing with an external antenna. It all depends on the equipment at the actual event. If they have the HD trucks at the event, you'll receive the HD broadcast, if not, you're out of luck. I actually emailed espn about it and they said NBA games will be 90% HD once football season is over (HD trucks will be freed up).

Hope this helps,
-Nathan

Umm...I doubt it will.

He was talking about sporting events pre-empting regular programming.

He said nothing about HD television.

[srs5694]

Just curious though...What IS the reason behind "SHIVA" and what is it really?

First, it's the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA), not SHIVA. Google it to learn more. If you find the complete text of the act, be prepared to read a lot of tedious legalese.

As to why they set it up the way they did, it's because the content owners and providers (studios, networks, and local stations, mainly) have lots of cash with which to make campaign contributions to (that is, bribe) legislators. The real issue is that you, me, and every other TV-watching citizen is a commodity, access to which can be controlled by the way the system is set up. This access is what makes money for commercial TV, so the broadcasters want to control that access. Your feelings about the matter don't enter into the equation -- at least, not unless enough people got annoyed enough about it to raise a significant political ruckus, which doesn't seem likely.

Add to this the fact that Congress relies on TV ads to get re-elected, and you can see that there's very little incentive to give you any choice in what network affiliates you can watch. It won't do the Senator from Ohio any good if voters in Columbus or Cincinnati are watching a TV station with ads for Senators (and challengers) from Nebraska.