Did I hear Charlie right tonite about Significally viewed channels??

[n1wbd]

Did I hear Charlie correctly tonite when he said to write to see if you qualify for significally viewed channels? At least thats what I thought he said.

I sent a note anyway to see if I can get WMUR we'll see what happens. I'll probably get some canned response.

Bob
Grafton NH

 

[Stargazer]

He did mention something about significantly viewed channels but he had another term for it. He said that only a fraction of one person would be able to get them or something and was disapointed by it.

 

[chaddux]

He called them "widely viewed" but that's what he meant. I don't believe his statement. They launched SV channels in my market but only gave me 1 of the 5 channels that are on "The List." If I'm part of the 1%, why didn't they give me all five that the FCC says I can receive?

Regardless, I did what he said: I've already emailed to explain my issue to see if they'll authorize the other four channels. The four channels are on two different spotbeams but two of my local channels I already receive are on both of those spotbeams so there's no technical reason I can't get them. We'll see what happens.

 

[BFG]

and how come they said the HD Distant rules dont change until june when DirecTV already has their HD distant system in place now...

 

[rdinkel]

and how come they said the HD Distant rules dont change until june when DirecTV already has their HD distant system in place now...

FCC has already ruled. They said they would use the same signal strength estimation system as used for analogue.

 

[waltinvt]

FCC has already ruled. They said they would use the same signal strength estimation system as used for analogue.

That's exactly right but it looks like Dish is choosing to see it differently.

AFAIK the only thing that's linked to June (and I thought it was a bit earlier but only the top 100 dmas) is that you can again call for a signal test to appeal a qualification determination for digital.

I don't know why it is but "D" was dragging their feet the same way regarding HD DNS qualification (maybe they still are - I don't know). I'm wondering if there's a little unwritten deal with the tv industry in exchange for getting a better deal for carrying HD LiLs as they come up.

 

[jrblaze]

Did I hear Charlie correctly tonite when he said to write to see if you qualify for significally viewed channels? At least thats what I thought he said.

I sent a note anyway to see if I can get WMUR we'll see what happens. I'll probably get some canned response.

Bob
Grafton NH

I am also in New Hampshire and would love to get WMUR and from what I originally heard it was supposed to be available before January 2006 but as we NH'erians know that didn't happen.

n1wbd: If you hear anything please send me a message and let me know please or a least post an update here. Thanks

Jeff
Gorham, NH

 

[chaddux]

I've already emailed to explain my issue to see if they'll authorize the other four channels. The four channels are on two different spotbeams but two of my local channels I already receive are on both of those spotbeams so there's no technical reason I can't get them. We'll see what happens.

Request denied. However, I was told that they plan to eventually make them available. The excuse was technical hurdles which doesn't explain why they managed to launch two SV channels in my market but not the others. There was also no explanation as to why I get only one of the two SV channels available in my area.

 

[n1wbd]

Request denied. However, I was told that they plan to eventually make them available. The excuse was technical hurdles which doesn't explain why they managed to launch two SV channels in my market but not the others. There was also no explanation as to why I get only one of the two SV channels available in my area.

What email addy did you use to request those channels. I tried emailing from the dish customer care site but got a canned response. I want my WMUR and I have a dish pointed to 61.5 so there should be no reason why I can't get it.

Thanks
Bob N1WBD

 

[chaddux]

What email addy did you use to request those channels. I tried emailing from the dish customer care site but got a canned response. I want my WMUR and I have a dish pointed to 61.5 so there should be no reason why I can't get it.
Thanks
Bob N1WBD

Well, since Charlie is the one who said to email about them, I used ceo@dishnetwork.com since the people in the executive offices usually do a good job of answering these type of issues that a regular CSR would never be able to answer. Sadly, I received a rather canned response as well that was also not believable. I've emailed her back to ask another question. She claimed technical hurdles in getting the channels launched.

However, two SV channels have already been launched in my area but only ONE of them was made available to me. According to the FCC list, my county should have both of them but my county was placed in the Enhanced 2 area which only receives one of the channels. She can't claim technical hurdles for this problem since the channel has already been launched. They just didn't align the geographic areas properly. I'll be interested to see her response.

 

[n1wbd]

Well, since Charlie is the one who said to email about them, I used ceo@dishnetwork.com since the people in the executive offices usually do a good job of answering these type of issues that a regular CSR would never be able to answer. Sadly, I received a rather canned response as well that was also not believable. I've emailed her back to ask another question. She claimed technical hurdles in getting the channels launched.
However, two SV channels have already been launched in my area but only ONE of them was made available to me. According to the FCC list, my county should have both of them but my county was placed in the Enhanced 2 area which only receives one of the channels. She can't claim technical hurdles for this problem since the channel has already been launched. They just didn't align the geographic areas properly. I'll be interested to see her response.

Well I sent a note to the ceo asking about WMUR. I already have a dish aimed at 61.5 so I can receive it. So there is no problem on my end picking it up. I think folks that maybe eligible to get SV channels should write maybe after enough inquiries they will do something definite one way or another.

Bob N1WBD

 

[motorcycle_rider]

I shot off an E-mail enquirey for my area. According to the list a few channels qualify but since I am in an area that E* offers no local I am sure I will git a no for an answer. Funny thing the channels in the FCC list are my local NBC ABC since they are the closest DMA that broadcasts that to me.

 

[SaltiDawg]

Well, since Charlie is the one who said to email about them, I used ceo@dishnetwork.com since the people in the executive offices usually do a good job of answering these type of issues that a regular CSR would never be able to answer. Sadly, I received a rather canned response as well that was also not believable. I've emailed her back to ask another question. She claimed technical hurdles in getting the channels launched. ...

I live in the Baltimore-Washington corridor - one of two specific examples Mr. Ergen said were among the few that qualified under the "widely viewed" channels. I called twice and E-mailed Customer service. All I could get was, "You live in the Washington DMA and are not eligible for locals out of that area." I have now E-mailed ceo@echostar.com twice, without a reply.

They ought to make CSR's watch the Charlie Chat.

 

[SaltiDawg]

I live in the Baltimore-Washington corridor - one of two specific examples Mr. Ergen said were among the few that qualified under the "widely viewed" channels. I called twice and E-mailed Customer service. All I could get was, "You live in the Washington DMA and are not eligible for locals out of that area." I have now E-mailed ceo@echostar.com twice, without a reply. ...

I received a call today from Mr. Ergen's office. The Rep sounded very knowledgeble and immediately apologized for Echostar not having addressed my question earlier. Bottom line, there will be some added locals from the Baltimore DMA made available to us in the Washington DMA. These "new" stations will be added in the 6000 range only and not mirrored down to the actual Channels. She suggested that I periodically scan the 6000's to see when (and if )they become available.

I advised her that Mr. Ergen had referred to these channels as "widely viewed" and I sensed that the CSR's did not have a clue as to what I was asking about. I further advised her that the languange the FCC uses to refer to these channels is "significantly viewed" and Google liked that phrase much better.

 

[chaddux]

These "new" stations will be added in the 6000 range only and not mirrored down to the actual Channels. She suggested that I periodically scan the 6000's to see when (and if )they become available.

That's not true. All of the signficantly viewed channels currently launched are mapped (not mirrored) to a lower channel number in the 60s range like EVERY OTHER LOCAL CHANNEL in the system (excluding superstations and, I assume, CBS-HD). There is no reason for them to pick a couple of channels from one DMA to NOT map down. Mapping doesn't take up any bandwidth so there is absolutely no reason why they would not map them. Heck, the Tech Depot help files even say that Significantly Viewed channels are in the 60s range. She was just misinformed.

 

[SimpleSimon]

There is no reason for them to pick a couple of channels from one DMA to NOT map down.

Yes there is.

Duplicate channel numbers - and that MAY be the case here.

 

[TNGTony]

FCC rules also state that local channels have to be contiguous. So interptreting the rule strictly, Significantly Viewed channels are NOT local and if some would be between the local channels, then the local channels would not be contiguous!

Saltidawg,

Check out www.dishchannelchart.com and look in the 6000 range. The channels generally pop up there before they become available.

See ya
Tony

 

[chaddux]

Yes there is.

Duplicate channel numbers - and that MAY be the case here.

No, there's not. Significantly viewed channels are mapped to the 60s range (except 6221 which is mapped to 70), NOT THE ACTUAL CHANNEL NUMBER. Therefore, Echostar can pick any channel in the 60s as the mapdown location. None of the currently-launched SV channels are mapped to their actual channel number. WJLA is channel 7 but is mapped to 66 in SV areas. WUSA 9 to 67. KTBS 3 to 66. And so on. Washington has a channel 62 and channel 68. Therefore, if there is a conflict, they could use unused channel numbers. In this case, they could use 61, 63-67, 69, and 70.

 

[SaltiDawg]

That's not true. All of the signficantly viewed channels currently launched are mapped (not mirrored) to a lower channel number in the 60s range like EVERY OTHER LOCAL CHANNEL in the system (excluding superstations and, I assume, CBS-HD). There is no reason for them to pick a couple of channels from one DMA to NOT map down. Mapping doesn't take up any bandwidth so there is absolutely no reason why they would not map them. Heck, the Tech Depot help files even say that Significantly Viewed channels are in the 60s range. She was just misinformed.

So why are my locals currently mapped in the 8000 range? I'm only guessing, but the potential exists where one might be receiving Ch-4, for example, from both one's own DMA and also from the adjacent DMA. She never mentioned bandwidth, she only said the "significantly viewed" channels would not be mirrored (or mapped) to the lower numbers?

Is anyone currently receiving any "significantly viewed" channels?

 

[SaltiDawg]

...
Check out www.dishchannelchart.com and look in the 6000 range. The channels generally pop up there before they become available.

Thanks for the help. I checked and they are not there yet - just my Locals. I'll follow your advice - and that of the Rep's - and periodically check the 6000's.

Tnx again.