If you're DirecTV subscriber (like myself), you've probably noticed that they're inserting local/regional ads during commercial breaks on basic cable channels, in much the same fashion the local cable company does. This is besides DirecTV putting its own ads for their specialty programming (pay-per-view, Audience Network, etc.)...it's possible that they're using their local spotbeam locations to insert these ads. Both of the major satellite providers designate a local station in each market to upload the other locals into the satellite service.