DirecTV Dual Locals (2 markets of locals)

[mrbillpsu00]

I remember seeing a post here last November (can't find it now, and searching didn't yield anything either) about DirecTV starting to operate like the cable companies where you'd be able to get both local markets if you were near them.

For example, I'm just over the border between Wisconsin and IL. I am in the Milwaukee Market, but if I were on cable TV, I'd get Milwaukee and Chicago Locals.

Anyone have any insight on this?

[JimSpence]

They are called "significantly viewed" stations close to your locale.

[mrbillpsu00]

Originally Posted by JimSpence

They are called "significantly viewed" stations close to your locale.

OK - That still doesn't bring up anything on DTV's site...

[lee espinoza]

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=42303

[HogarthNH]

Originally Posted by mrbillpsu00

OK - That still doesn't bring up anything on DTV's site...

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/see/SvChannels.jsp

[crkeehn]

Still nothing for our area. I am supposed to be eligible for Washington DC as well as Baltimore stations, however DirecTV has not yet elected to offer them.

[jmahone]

I guess this is can be considered a cross-post, but in searching for this topic, I found what I thought was the pertinent thread, only to find this one afterward.

So, I'll keep it short: I, too, live in between DC and Balitimore, and wanted to know what ever happened to DTV's rollout of significantly viewed local channels?

[mrbillpsu00]

Over a year later, and still no change...

And this page : http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packPr...ssetId=1200076

isn't showing anything helpful...

[Nutiket]

Hmmm, I just moved to 21076 from 20850 and was stoked about adding the Baltimore Channels. Now I realize I really have traded my Washington stations for Baltimore stations. That won't make the wife happy. =(

[tjperez]

I think I would get both Birmingham and Atlanta locals if I had an elliptical dish that can get 119, but since I just have a round one pointed at 101, I can't get them.

[dishrich]

Originally Posted by tjperez

I think I would get both Birmingham and Atlanta locals if I had an elliptical dish that can get 119, but since I just have a round one pointed at 101, I can't get them.

Your dish has NOTHING to do with this, as BOTH of these markets are on the 101 bird. Unless D* decides to specifically authorize & offer BOTH markets in YOUR area, you can only get the one you get now.

[Bob Coxner]

Originally Posted by Nutiket

Hmmm, I just moved to 21076 from 20850 and was stoked about adding the Baltimore Channels. Now I realize I really have traded my Washington stations for Baltimore stations. That won't make the wife happy. =(

So "move" back to a 21076 address. DirecTV has no problem with differing billing and service addresses.

[tjperez]

Originally Posted by dishrich

Your dish has NOTHING to do with this, as BOTH of these markets are on the 101 bird. Unless D* decides to specifically authorize & offer BOTH markets in YOUR area, you can only get the one you get now.

Actually, I was doing some research on Lyngsat AFTER I posted this and I discovered that. I thought it was on a different one because I didn't see it listed in the program guide; I have an old receiver that shows the local channels in the 900's. Apparently, Directv hides the other channels.

[crowtoo]

Originally Posted by Nutiket

Hmmm, I just moved to 21076 from 20850 and was stoked about adding the Baltimore Channels. Now I realize I really have traded my Washington stations for Baltimore stations. That won't make the wife happy. =(

Nutiket:

Good luck getting a decent answer from DirecTV concerning significantly viewed channels. Back in October I contacted DirecTV to inquire about getting Baltimore locals in the Frederick area, to where I had just recently moved to after living outside Westminster and previously receiving Baltimore locals. I even quoted the FCC ruling that allows customers to receive the stations and gave them directions where to find the official ruling on the FCC's webpage.

Here is our correspondence:

My original inquiry:

Customer
10/19/2006 02:41 PM
DIRECTV FEEDBACK MESSAGE

Name: Chris Row
Status:
Account Number:
Phone Number:
Email Address: crowtoo@*********.***
Topic Selected: Getting Local Channels

Details: I am considering changing to DirecTV and I was wondering when local channels from Baltimore will be available to me? I live about the same distance from both cities. Currently in my area (zip 21701) we get Washington DC local stations but not Baltimore. This issue is a deal-breaker for me as I watch the Baltimore locals much more often than the DC ones. I have gotten service over the years from several different cable companies in the Maryland area and they have always offered both cities local stations. I had heard that DirecTV would soon be offering local stations in neigboring markets, just like in my situation. When will the Baltimore locals be available to subscribers in my area? I'm looking forward to ditching cable and becoming a DirecTV customer just as soon as I can receive Baltimore locals.

Thanks, Chris Row

Their first response:

Discussion Thread
Response (Marge A)
10/19/2006 06:02 PM

Dear Mr. Crow,

Thanks for your interest in DIRECTV. I'm excited to hear that you're considering joining the DIRECTV family.

Moreover, I'm sorry to hear you are unhappy with your local channel programming. We assign local channels by ZIP code based on Designated Market Area (DMA), as determined by Nielsen Media Research. Federal law requires us to use the established local market boundaries and these cannot be changed by DIRECTV.

If you need more information you can visit Nielsen Media Research at http://www.nielsenmedia.com/ to learn more about how local DMA's are determined.

I realize that you may have some other questions, so we have set up two ways for you to get fast answers to all of your questions and begin enjoying DIRECTV:

You'll find great new customer offers and everything you'll need to get started at our web site. Just go to http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global...assetId=400002 for more information or to place your order online in just minutes.

You can also call us at 1-888-777-2454 from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time to get answers to your questions. Our call center is staffed with knowledgeable Customer Service Representatives who are ready to help.

We look forward to serving you as a customer and showing you why DIRECTV is the best entertainment value available.

Sincerely,

Marge
DIRECTV Customer Service

I responded to their email with this:

Marge,

Thank you very much for your prompt response to my email however you failed to answer my original question. I understand that according to Nielson my zip code places me in the Washington, DC region for local channels. I was inquiring about when the "significantly viewed channels" from neighboring markets, Baltimore in my case, would be available.

According to the FCC document dated April 6, 2006 and located here:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...C-264821A1.pdf (the main FCC page is here http://www.fcc.gov/mb/ and the above listed link can be found on the left-hand side of the page); the following stations are listed as significantly viewed stations in my area (Frederick County, Maryland):

WMAR-TV, 2, Baltimore
WBAL-TV, 11, Baltimore
WJZ-TV, 13, Baltimore

This list was generated by the FCC as part of the Implementation of the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004; Implementation of Section 340 of the Communications Act, MB Docket No. 05-49, Report and Order, 20 FCC Rcd 17278, 17333 and signed into law by George W. Bush.

I would like to know when these stations will be added to local stations for my area as the FCC has stated they can be. I know that you have rolled out significantly viewed channels in other markets and I wanted to know when they would be coming to my area. When this occurs I would love to become a DirecTV customer but as I stated in my earlier email, not being able to receive these stations is currently a deal-breaker for me.

Thanks for your assistance in this matter,

Chris Row
crowtoo@*********.***

And their response to me was:

Dear Mr. Crow,

Thanks for writing. I understand your concern about local channels. As stated on our previous email to you, we assign local channels by ZIP code based on Designated Market Area (DMA), as determined by Nielsen Media Research. Federal law requires us to use the established local market boundaries and these cannot be changed by DIRECTV.

For your reference, to find out if local channels are available in your area, or if we plan on adding them for your city in the near future, visit our web site at DIRECTV.com/Local, enter your zip code into the local channel lookup and click on the "search" button. You'll see a list of the local channels that we offer in your area, as well as a link to a printable copy of the channel lineup.

Thanks again for writing and stay tuned to DIRECTV.com for the latest news and updates about our services.

Sincerely,

Dan
DIRECTV Customer Service

So as you can see, two different customer service representatives never answered my question and I doubt if they ever even really read and understood my question. At this point I gave up and thus give my TV business to Comcast. I really wanted to move to DirecTV but as I told them not having Baltimore stations is a deal breaker for me. I don't understand why they don't/won't offer these staions as it would take no extra effort on their part and I've been a customer of several different cable systems in the central Maryland area and ALL of them have always offered both Baltimore and DC locals. Perhaps another member fo the board has more information than I do.

Chris
crowtoo@earthlink.net

[tjperez]

So as you can see, you shouldn't have to do anything. You should automatically get them.

Originally Posted by crowtoo

Nutiket:

Good luck getting a decent answer from DirecTV concerning significantly viewed channels. Back in October I contacted DirecTV to inquire about getting Baltimore locals in the Frederick area, to where I had just recently moved to after living outside Westminster and previously receiving Baltimore locals. I even quoted the FCC ruling that allows customers to receive the stations and gave them directions where to find the official ruling on the FCC's webpage.

Here is our correspondence:

My original inquiry:



Their first response:



I responded to their email with this:



And their response to me was:



So as you can see, two different customer service representatives never answered my question and I doubt if they ever even really read and understood my question. At this point I gave up and thus give my TV business to Comcast. I really wanted to move to DirecTV but as I told them not having Baltimore stations is a deal breaker for me. I don't understand why they don't/won't offer these staions as it would take no extra effort on their part and I've been a customer of several different cable systems in the central Maryland area and ALL of them have always offered both Baltimore and DC locals. Perhaps another member fo the board has more information than I do.

Chris
crowtoo@earthlink.net

[FavreJL04]

Originally Posted by crowtoo

So as you can see, two different customer service representatives never answered my question and I doubt if they ever even really read and understood my question. At this point I gave up and thus give my TV business to Comcast. I really wanted to move to DirecTV but as I told them not having Baltimore stations is a deal breaker for me. I don't understand why they don't/won't offer these staions as it would take no extra effort on their part and I've been a customer of several different cable systems in the central Maryland area and ALL of them have always offered both Baltimore and DC locals. Perhaps another member fo the board has more information than I do.

My market still doesn't have SD locals and everyone is now getting the HD locals so what I did to remedy their problem is this. I "moved" to the closest market that do have locals. That way i still get what I feel I should get based on what my cable system can offer me. If DTV ever asks me about it I will grace them with the same type of response they give in their emails. "I receive the local stations that my service address states I am eligible to receive" (of course never directly answering their main question).

[crowtoo]

Originally Posted by tjperez

So as you can see, you shouldn't have to do anything. You should automatically get them.

I agree, I shouldn't have to do anything. But DirecTV will not allow me to receive the channels that the FCC says I am allowed to receive. It doesn't even require ANY effort on their part. Both DC and Baltimore locals are on the same satellite, so their work is done. All someone has to do is throw a switch.

One would think in cases such as this they would want to offer the additional channels to help them compete with cable, which like I said has ALWAYS provided both cities local channels. I could understand if it was a capacity/bandwidth issue, but it isn't.

Chris
crowtoo@earthlink.net

[FavreJL04]

I think I read somewhere that the satellite companies don't have to offer anything beyond the actual locals for the market. I agree though. Satellite companies should want to offer more than the competition. I guess mediocrity is satisfactory to most.