I exchanged e-mail with the Chief Engineer at KXAN here in Austin (who I know). He indicated that this is more complicated than the locals simply giving permission. It is a deal that the network did.
He also indicated that I would be able to get all of the NBC HD programming over the air. He did not elaborate on whether that would be on the primary or secondary channel.
I mentioned that the locals were getting hammered here and on "the other site." I suggested that some Local and Corporate PR might help explain things.
The following is my guesstimate- not part of the e-mail from the station.
If you were an station not owned and operated by NBC, who depends on advertising revenue to keep the lights on, why on earth would you want to have the network provide programming directly to the customer?
Yes, the customer is happy, but the station receives no income from local advertising and thus loses customers during a major event with a lot of viewers/ potential revenue.
On that basis, and in reading the e-mail from the other station above, I'm beginning to think that the network is the bad guy.
Candidly, I don't care where the programming comes from, as long as I get the feed in HD and don't just get a couple of hours of "highlights."
Sure, those who aren't in a local area should get the feed from the network, but those who are can certainly watch it through their local station.
As the bumper stickers say around here "Keep Austin Weird- Support Local Business."
Am I missing something here???