DMA's, local channels, orphans

[jspriddy]

Trying to be as brief as possible, we live in what is sometimes referred to as an "orphan" county-a county that is assigned to a DMA from an adjoining state. We are in Lamar County, Alabama, and are assigned to the Columbus-Tupelo (MS) DMA. Needless to say, nearly everyone in the county that is forced to rely on satellite service would prefer to have Alabama local channels. There is no need to go into all the reasons here. I'm certain they are quite obvious.

My question is two-fold: Does anyone on these forums have any experience in effecting these changes? Especially someone who has had any success at it.

Also, cable subscribers here are provided with both locals from both DMA's, Mississippi and Alabama. Supposedly, this is because their signal comes “over the air”, as opposed to via satellite. Is the cable company's feed (I hope that's the right term) actually still over the air, or is it now via satellite?





We are currently collecting signatures on a petition, meeting with local officials, and in contact with state and U.S. representatives and senators. I do not agree with this approach, although I support it. It is my contention that the FCC does allow us certain “significantly viewed” stations, but it is up to us to convince satellite services to provide them.




Thanks, guys

 

[mike123abc]

The way it works is that neilson supposedly surveys the county regularly (well a representative sample) and see which stations are being watched by the most households in the market. If Mississippi locals are watched in more households than the Alabama stations then the county stays in that market.

If you can get the Alabama stations over the air your Dish receivers (the HD ones) will integrate them into the guide and you can watch/record them.

Significantely viewed is a list published by the FCC.

 

[Mr Tony]

What is interesting is about 1/2 the towns in Lamar County when you pull up a zip with Directv asks what county its in. If you say the other county options you get Birmingham

I know the zip codes of some areas cross county lines. My area is one of them here in Minnesota. North Mankato/Mankato is in 3 counties. If you live in Nicollet County you get Minneapolis locals + the local in Mankato, MN (KEYC CBS). Le Seuer county just gets Minneapolis. If you live in Blue Earth County you get KEYC + only the 3 Minneapolis nets you're missing.

so depending on county you get 5, 11 or 12 channels

 

[Bill_KY]

http://transition.fcc.gov/mb/significantviewedstations031011.pdf

 

[jspriddy]

Mike:

The "significantly viewed" stations are available to us now, according to all I've read, including a report from a US congressional research service, compliments of our US representative. Cleburne county, Alabama is an orphan county (Atlanta DMA) and DirectTV (no Dish yet) has offered them SVC's. Cleburne's neighbor county, Randolph, was not offered the SVC's. Supposedly, the US representative, Mike (?) Rogers, arranged this. Why Randolph was left out, no one here knows.

We had a meeting with the probate judge here yesterday, and he's going to our rep, Bob Aderholt, who is already aware, at least of this.

I need to hear from some one from Cleburne county.

Ice:

I've had B'ham locals in the past by using an adjoining county address, but this just has me ticked off. I want to force the satellite services' hand on this. It's just grossly unfair.

Bill:

I'll look at your link when I get a chance. Thanks.


John

 

[mike123abc]

Froms Bill's link

Lamar
WCBI-TV, 4, Columbus, MS
+WTVA, 9, Tupelo, MS
WBRC, 6, Birmingham, AL
WVTM-TV, 13, Birmingham, AL (formerly WAPI)
+WDBB, 17, Bessemer, AL

So, in theory WBRC, WVTM and WDBB should be available as SV from AL.

 

[jspriddy]

Froms Bill's link



So, in theory WBRC, WVTM and WDBB should be available as SV from AL.

Yeah, they are available. Getting Dish and Direct to admit it and do something about it is a different story, however. I've not dealt with Direct but Dish denies this, saying the FCC rules prevent them from giving us any Alabama locals.

Thanks,

John

 

[Mr Tony]

Dish right now is very tight when it comes to locals not in your market. They lost the ability back in 06 to supply you with ANY out of market station. They recently (a year ago) could supply a neighboring station only if it helped fill in a market that didnt have all 4 networks. They still havent been able to offer sig viewed yet.

Directv can but they do it only in very rare situations

 

[jspriddy]

Dish right now is very tight when it comes to locals not in your market. They lost the ability back in 06 to supply you with ANY out of market station. They recently (a year ago) could supply a neighboring station only if it helped fill in a market that didnt have all 4 networks. They still havent been able to offer sig viewed yet.

Directv can but they do it only in very rare situations

I'll look into this. I knew there was some "penalty time", for lack of a better term, that Dish was serving, but thought that was over now. This is from Charles B. Goldfarb, Specialist in Telecommunications Policy, Congressional Research Service, which is a service available to US senators and representatives:

"However, the FCC also has identified WBRC and WVTM in Birmingham, and WDBB in Bessemer, as stations that are “significantly viewed” in Lamar County and thus satellite operators may offer the signals of those stations to their Lamar County subscribers. It is not clear why WCFT, an ABC affiliate whose signal covers the entire county, is not deemed significantly viewed."

John​

 

[Mr Tony]

But even if they are considered SV Dish has a very small ability to carry channels that Nielsen says are not local to you. Right now Dish can only import stations not considered local in those areas where there is a missing network.

 

[jspriddy]

OK. But that's not what the FCC and Congressional Research Service are saying. They're saying that these stations are available now, if Dish and Direct will provide them. Damn politicians, bureaucrats, and corporate liars.

Thanks, Ice

 

[mcrutland]

OK. But that's not what the FCC and Congressional Research Service are saying. They're saying that these stations are available now, if Dish and Direct will provide them. Damn politicians, bureaucrats, and corporate liars.

Thanks, Ice

Could it be that when the satellite companies and stations in a particular DMA come to an agreement, that the agreement can state that no SV channels can be offered by the satellite companies in exchange for carriage rights? These agreements are never disclosed to the public.