Wishbone said:
Noob questions:
1) Why are the local UPN and WB channels called "Superstations?"
2) Aside from not getting them locally, why would anyone pay extra for these?
3) Why are there so many of them not in a contract with Dish?
Sorry for the questions, but this has been bugging me.. Thanks!
1) Local UPN and WB stations are not called super stations. Super Stations is a specific term that applies ONLY to KTLA (Los Angeles), KWGN (Denver), WPIX (NYC), WWOR (NYC) and WSBK (Boston). It also used to apply to WGN 9 chicago, but WGN Superstation is now a cable-only channel which shares only about 60% of the program schedule with WGN 9 Chicago. WTBS Atlanta is now the sole OTA affiliate of the TBS cable channel and no longer a Superstation under the current law.
All these stations were at one time independent channels with major league sports that cable companies throughout the country though would be great to provide their customers back in the 70s. Eventually these and other stations were uplinked as "superstations". The only problem is, no one bothered to ask the stations or the program copyright owners if this was okay with them! Fast forward to today...the last loop-hole remaining allowing Superstations to exist without the consent of the program content owners is being closed up.
So...KTLA, KWGN, WPIX are all super stations and all WB affiliates now. WWOR and WSBK are also superstations and UPN affiliates now. And Dish has been using these to fill in the gaps where they either refuse to carry the local channel (like the UPN here in Cincinnati), or for anyone who wants additional sports and 75 airings of Elimidate.
2) Mets Baseball. News from NYC, LA, Boston, Denver. Program not available in your area. Choice in time zone for WB. These are just a few reasons that popped in my head. I'm sure I could think of more if it wasn't 5:30 in the figgin morning!
3) Huh? Are you asking why so many local areas are missing WB and UPN? The answer is mostly because many local areas do not HAVE WB or UPN full power local stations. In Cincinnati, the UPN affiliate is a low power TV station and not eligible for must carry. Dish does not carry low power stations unless they are one of the big 4 networks (or unless one of the big 4 network holds itself hostage until Dish relents and carried the cable-only or low power TV channel. See
http://ekb.dbstalk.com/19 for details on what full-power channels are in any specific market and what Dish carries.
See ya
Tony