Does Direct TV carry the local OTA sub channels anywhere?
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Direct TV and OTA sub channels
- Thread starter ricksegers
- Start date
I'm in a market outside the top 100...we have a CW+ and a My Network affiliate as digital subchannels. We get the CW on channel 14 (I believe the "CW Plus" channels are carried nationwide by DirecTV on channel 14, can anyone confirm) but we do NOT get the MyNetwork TV station. We also don't get any of the news/wx or PBS digital subchannels. Any oher markets this size in the same boat?
In Tyler-Longview, TX, D* carries independent MYTX (My Texas TV), channel 18.2, a subchannel of CBS affiliate KYTX. MYTX was previously a UPN affiliate and has continued to be carried after UPN went dark.
Our My Network affiliate, KLPN, is still low powered analog and is carried on sub-channel of our Fox affiliate, KFXK. D* does not carry this channel.
Our CW+ affiliate, KCEB, is on channel 14, but it is a local, full powered digital channel 54.1, not a national channel.
Some of the D* HD-DVR's have the capability of connecting to an external ATSC tuner, the AM21, in which over the air digital channels can be received and integrated into the program guide. The AM21 is very handy for receiving and recording sub-channels and nearby out of market channels.
Our My Network affiliate, KLPN, is still low powered analog and is carried on sub-channel of our Fox affiliate, KFXK. D* does not carry this channel.
Our CW+ affiliate, KCEB, is on channel 14, but it is a local, full powered digital channel 54.1, not a national channel.
Some of the D* HD-DVR's have the capability of connecting to an external ATSC tuner, the AM21, in which over the air digital channels can be received and integrated into the program guide. The AM21 is very handy for receiving and recording sub-channels and nearby out of market channels.
In Chicago, it depends on how you look at it. WCIU's sister station WWME-LD is carried on DirecTV & Dish Network, but is also carried as a subchannel to WCIU on 26.3. DirecTV didn't really want to add it, but they did. WCIU however has not been successful at getting WMEU-CA 48/WCIU 26.4 added to their lineup. WWME-LD 23.1/WCIU 26.3 is MeTV (now the national MeTV) while WMEU-CA 48/WCIU 26.4 is MeToo (now the local MeTV). WCIU also would like to get U Too added as well. So far, DirecTV does not want to add MeToo or U Too to their lineup. I don't believe This TV is available on satellite either anywhere in the country (except if This TV is on the main channel of a local station).
WTTW in Chicago also would like to see WTTW Prime added, as that's an extension of the programming available on WTTW, & that channel (like WMEU-CA/WCIU's MeToo & WCIU's U Too) is locally programmed. It is not part of the PBS Encore channel that some PBS stations carry. WTTW programs WTTW Prime in house, & doesn't cost extra for them.
As for other low power stations, DirecTV has added WCHU-LD, but nothing else. They don't even carry full power station WWTO, because the FCC refuses to grant that station Must Carry status. The station has never been significantly viewed either in most of the market. The station is licensed to LaSalle, IL (nearly 80 miles west of Chicago) is barely viewable in the far western suburbs with their signal. If they ever go 80kw (if they haven't done so already), they'll reach more of the market, but OTA, most people won't point their antennas toward LaSalle. Those who did need VHF antennas now, since they went from UHF to VHF. It doesn't matter in this case, because DirecTV already carries the satellite fed TBN, and probably the other channels that would be found on their local subchannels.
As for these other subchannels that air on a national level: Livewell, Antenna TV, MeTV, This TV, Create (if it isn't already available in DirecTV), and others that I don't know about right now; a compromise might have to be made to where the national satellite feed is made available, in order to get them on satellite. This isn't an issue for cable, as these channels are put in the digital tier. The locally programmed subchannels need to get added the most, as people who don't want an outdoor antenna would not have to miss out on those channels. Now I didn't mention Mhz Worldview, V-Me, Qubo, & Ion Life because those are already available on satellite. So no duplication needs to be made at carrying the local subchannels. I personally prefer the outdoor antenna for my locals over a dish or cable.
WTTW in Chicago also would like to see WTTW Prime added, as that's an extension of the programming available on WTTW, & that channel (like WMEU-CA/WCIU's MeToo & WCIU's U Too) is locally programmed. It is not part of the PBS Encore channel that some PBS stations carry. WTTW programs WTTW Prime in house, & doesn't cost extra for them.
As for other low power stations, DirecTV has added WCHU-LD, but nothing else. They don't even carry full power station WWTO, because the FCC refuses to grant that station Must Carry status. The station has never been significantly viewed either in most of the market. The station is licensed to LaSalle, IL (nearly 80 miles west of Chicago) is barely viewable in the far western suburbs with their signal. If they ever go 80kw (if they haven't done so already), they'll reach more of the market, but OTA, most people won't point their antennas toward LaSalle. Those who did need VHF antennas now, since they went from UHF to VHF. It doesn't matter in this case, because DirecTV already carries the satellite fed TBN, and probably the other channels that would be found on their local subchannels.
As for these other subchannels that air on a national level: Livewell, Antenna TV, MeTV, This TV, Create (if it isn't already available in DirecTV), and others that I don't know about right now; a compromise might have to be made to where the national satellite feed is made available, in order to get them on satellite. This isn't an issue for cable, as these channels are put in the digital tier. The locally programmed subchannels need to get added the most, as people who don't want an outdoor antenna would not have to miss out on those channels. Now I didn't mention Mhz Worldview, V-Me, Qubo, & Ion Life because those are already available on satellite. So no duplication needs to be made at carrying the local subchannels. I personally prefer the outdoor antenna for my locals over a dish or cable.
In the Quad Cities, there is a subchannel on DirecTV. It's WQPT 24.2 which airs Al Jazeera. Here are the other subchannels:
-- WHBF 4.2 (RTV4)
-- KWQC 6.2 (Local weather channel)
-- WQAD 8.2 (Antenna TV)
-- WQAD 8.3 (WBQD-LP)
-- KGCW 26.2 (This TV)
-- KQIN 36.2 (IPTV Learns)
-- KQIN 36.3 (IPTV World)
Why put 24.2 on DirecTV and not the rest?
-- WHBF 4.2 (RTV4)
-- KWQC 6.2 (Local weather channel)
-- WQAD 8.2 (Antenna TV)
-- WQAD 8.3 (WBQD-LP)
-- KGCW 26.2 (This TV)
-- KQIN 36.2 (IPTV Learns)
-- KQIN 36.3 (IPTV World)
Why put 24.2 on DirecTV and not the rest?
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