How to change locals in overlapped market

[newSatUser1]

Hello,

I'm a relatively new Dish Network subscriber and so far am happy with the service.

The only problem I am having is being able to select my correct local channels. I pay for the local channels in my package but it is not giving me the stations I want,

I live in Cecil Co MD which straddles the Baltimore and Philly DMAs. My Comcast service actually gives me both sets of locals. But on the Dish I am only seeing Baltimore.

I've spent some time on these forums reading about the spotbeams and specific transponders and even found the channel lisitng that showed me what satellite/transponder/spotbeam the channels I need are on. I found that I need satellite 61.5, transponder 11.

I went into the install settings on the Point Dish screen and verified that I get a good signal with this satellite and transponder but it doesn't look like you can make settings from that screen. That's where I am stuck - how to get that information into stay in my receiver. I have a Vip722k if that matters.

This seems like is should be very simple so please forgive my ignorance.

 

[mike123abc]

Satellite and cable operate under different rules as to which local stations they can provide. Dish is just now (after some recent) legislation able to offer more channels. Whether or not it happens in your market is unknown. It is not a reception/equipment issue on your end, your locals are assigned by Dish and they have to have the other stations on a significantly viewed list to offer them to you.

 

[TheKrell]

Well, if he wants Philly instead of Baltimore, he could locate an appropriate address in Philly and "move" his service address there. This used to be easy with a quick call to Dish. But lately I've heard they may start asking questions you can't answer, so YMMV.

 

[panache70]

What could they possibly ask you?

 

[jerryez]

fOR A COPY OF A UTILITY BILL IN YOUR NAME FOR THE ADDRESS THAT YOU WANT TO MOVE TO.

 

[harshness]

DISH Network is not going to get caught again in the situation where they lost their DNS privileges. They are likely to be doubly careful about insuring people only get what they are entitled to.

 

[TNGTony]

Just to be clear: for satellite carriers there is no such thing as "overlaped" TV markets. The lines are hard and fast. Some areas are now eligible to get some channels from adjoining markets (significantly viewed), but that is very new.

 

[MikeD-C05]

I thought the whole reason why DISH wanted back in the distant market was to help give them an advantage over local tv stations when negotiating for carriage. You know, we will carry your station at this price and if you don't agree we will substitute an hd or sd distant in the place of your station. That and to finish up the markets lacking some of their networks because they don't have them in their dma. Since DISH now carries all 210 dmas on the satellite, I don't see how else they could use distants ,other than provide distants for RV customers.

 

[mike123abc]

A distant cannot be substituted for a local. They have to carry the local or no channel at all. The only thing distants buy Dish is the ability to fill in a market. So, if a market does not have a local CBS, they could provide a distant CBS. But, if the local CBS does not cut a deal with Dish, Dish has no alternative.

Separately there are significantely viewed stations, that could be out of market. Here is the FCC list: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/significantviewedstations050310.pdf

For Cecil Co:
Cecil
WMAR-TV, 2, Baltimore, MD
WBAL-TV, 11, Baltimore, MD
WJZ-TV, 13, Baltimore, MD
+WNUV, 54, Baltimore, MD
KYW-TV, 3, Philadelphia, PA
WPVI-TV, 6, Philadelphia, PA (formerly WFIL)
WCAU, 10, Philadelphia, PA
WGAL, 8, Lancaster, PA

It would be possible if Dish gets their license back to provide the SV. Note it is optional for Dish to provide SV, and they probably have to work out a deal with the SV stations too.

 

[MikeD-C05]

IN the Lake Charles, Louisiana dma DISH is already offering Beaumont Tx locals for ABC KBMT channel 12 and CBS KFDM channel 6 . They are considered significantly viewed in Lake Charles and the Fox 29 KVHP station out of Lake Charles used to be our only Fox affiliate in Beaumont,Tx up to 9 years ago. So how is DISH doing this now if they don't have the legal power to do distant networks or significant viewed locals?

 

[Derwin0]

Put up an OTA antenna. Point the antenna towards Philly. If you have a receiver with an OTA tuner (622, 722, 722k w/ module) then the Philly channels will be incorporated into your guide.

I do that to add the Baltimore channels to my Harrisburg lineup.

 

[mike123abc]

IN the Lake Charles, Louisiana dma DISH is already offering Beaumont Tx locals for ABC KBMT channel 12 and CBS KFDM channel 6 . They are considered significantly viewed in Lake Charles and the Fox 29 KVHP station out of Lake Charles used to be our only Fox affiliate in Beaumont,Tx up to 9 years ago. So how is DISH doing this now if they don't have the legal power to do distant networks or significant viewed locals?

Distants and SV are separate. Dish still has to get permission for distants. SV came back when they carried all markets from the new law.

 

[newSatUser1]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I can try an antenna.

I guess I just don't understand how Dish "knows" where I am. Using their website if I was in DE (couple of miles east of me), then I would get the Philly locals. How is their signal so focused that it can determine where I am within a few miles?

 

[mike123abc]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I can try an antenna.

I guess I just don't understand how Dish "knows" where I am. Using their website if I was in DE (couple of miles east of me), then I would get the Philly locals. How is their signal so focused that it can determine where I am within a few miles?

They do not know where you are. Based on the address you gave them for your service address they authorise the correct local channels for your location. The other market channels are still being received by your receiver, they just are not authorised to be shown (or appear in the guide).

 

[Voyager6]

Just to be clear: for satellite carriers there is no such thing as "overlaped" TV markets. The lines are hard and fast. Some areas are now eligible to get some channels from adjoining markets (significantly viewed), but that is very new.

Actually for Cecil County, MD some of the Southern PA locals are considered significantly viewed. E* is not allowed (yet) to offer the SV locals.

FCC Significantly Viewed List

Cecil
WMAR-TV, 2, Baltimore, MD
WBAL-TV, 11, Baltimore, MD
WJZ-TV, 13, Baltimore, MD
+WNUV, 54, Baltimore, MD
KYW-TV, 3, Philadelphia, PA
WPVI-TV, 6, Philadelphia, PA (formerly WFIL)
WCAU, 10, Philadelphia, PA
WGAL, 8, Lancaster, PA

 

[Voyager6]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I can try an antenna.

I guess I just don't understand how Dish "knows" where I am. Using their website if I was in DE (couple of miles east of me), then I would get the Philly locals. How is their signal so focused that it can determine where I am within a few miles?

Where in Cecil Co. are you located? The Philly locals are only 40 miles away from Elkton. OTA works great here but don't expect to pick up WPVI - 6. I get the Balt and Philly locals and sometimes DC.

 

[newSatUser1]

Where in Cecil Co. are you located? The Philly locals are only 40 miles away from Elkton. OTA works great here but don't expect to pick up WPVI - 6. I get the Balt and Philly locals and sometimes DC.

I'm really just hoping to pick up PHI 17 for the Phillies games. Any suggestions for an OTA antenna in our area thats good for 50+ miles?

 

[TNGTony]

Actually for Cecil County, MD some of the Southern PA locals are considered significantly viewed. E* is not allowed (yet) to offer the SV locals.

FCC Significantly Viewed List

Semantics. I understand about the SV. But the Philly market still does not "overlap". The lines are hard and fast. SV is SV and the DMA is the DMA. Two different things.

BTW to the OP, if you gave Dish your Delaware address as your SERVICE address, you would get the Philly locals but not the Baltimore locals.

I personally use an antenna to get the neighboring TV market myself.

See ya
Tony

 

[Voyager6]

I'm really just hoping to pick up PHI 17 for the Phillies games. Any suggestions for an OTA antenna in our area thats good for 50+ miles?

I use the CM4228 but it is hard to find. Any of the Winegard or Channel Master large antennas should work fine. If you only want the one station, then the XG91 should find it for you.