Why doesn't DirecTV carry digital subchannels?

[ixnay]

???

ixnay

 

[mgsports]

It carries some in certain cities.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Basically, bandwidth. DTV and Dish Network simply can't squeeze in 4-15 more channels per market. They typically only carry sub-channels if the sub is affiliated with one of the major networks.

Also subscriber interest is pretty low.

 

[ansky212]

I cancelled Directv 5 years ago, but I remember back then the receivers had antenna inputs so you could pull in the subchannels OTA, and the program guide had listings for those channels. You could even record the subchannels to the DVR. I don't know if the newer receivers have that antenna input anymore.

 

[Darth_vader]

Re: Why doesn't DirecTV DSS simulcast ATSC substreams?

"


ixnay"

You don't say....

 

[gbranch]

I cancelled Directv 5 years ago, but I remember back then the receivers had antenna inputs so you could pull in the subchannels OTA, and the program guide had listings for those channels. You could even record the subchannels to the DVR. I don't know if the newer receivers have that antenna input anymore.

The new receivers do not have integrated OTA tuners, but all Directv HD-DVR's since the HR21, plus the HD non-DVR H25, have the capability of connecting the external AM21N ATSC tuner. The AM21N has dual tuners and integrates the OTA channels into the guide. Few people wanted or cared about receiving subs or out of market channels, so Directv made the decision to offer the ATSC tuner as a $50 optional box.

Like others have said, Directv carries some sub-channels in certain markets, but typically only if the sub-channel is affiliated with one of the major networks. The sats just don't have the bandwidth to carry every sub-channel in every market. If you look at a major market like DFW or Houston, there may be upwards of 60 channels available OTA if you count all of the subs and LD's.

 

[ixnay]

I cancelled Directv 5 years ago, but I remember back then the receivers had antenna inputs so you could pull in the subchannels OTA, and the program guide had listings for those channels. You could even record the subchannels to the DVR. I don't know if the newer receivers have that antenna input anymore.

The new receivers do not have integrated OTA tuners, but all Directv HD-DVR's since the HR21, plus the HD non-DVR H25, have the capability of connecting the external AM21N ATSC tuner. The AM21N has dual tuners and integrates the OTA channels into the guide. Few people wanted or cared about receiving subs or out of market channels, so Directv made the decision to offer the ATSC tuner as a $50 optional box.

Like others have said, Directv carries some sub-channels in certain markets, but typically only if the sub-channel is affiliated with one of the major networks. The sats just don't have the bandwidth to carry every sub-channel in every market. If you look at a major market like DFW or Houston, there may be upwards of 60 channels available OTA if you count all of the subs and LD's.

Well, that doesn't seem to be the case in my market.

I like your response to my handle, Darth. I created it probably as a byproduct of watching too many Flintstones reruns. ;D

ixnay

 

[dave73]

In the Chicago market, WTTW has been trying hard to get WTTW Prime on satellite, as it's a subchannel programmed locally. WTTW Prime is WTTW programming, minus children's progrmming (children's programming hogs half of the daily schedule Monday - Friday on the main channel). That is one channel I'd like to see on satellite, since I feel is programmed better than the main WTTW channel.

Weigel Broadcasting was lucky to get WWME-LD (then WWME-CA when MeTV hadn't gone to OTA digital), but DirecTV actually complained about it adding it. So MeTV is available to Chicago viewers via WWME-LD. Weigel Broadcasting however hasn't been successful at getting WMEU-CD (MeToo, Chicago's MeTV) on satellite. Since Weigel Broadcasting owns CBS affiliate WDJT up in Milwaukee, they might be able to get MeTV back on satellite up there, since they use retransmission consent up there, & could require carrying MeTV in order to me allowed to carry CBS (whenever DirecTV & Dish Network's contracts come up for renewal). MeTV was available to Milwaukee satellite viewers when WBME carried MeTV on the main channel. Weigel decided it was more important to have their independent station, WMLW on the full power station & in HD, & have MeTV & the WBME call letters move to the low power station, & simulcasted on a subchannel to WDJT. In Chicago, WCIU doesn't have that leverage, as ratings aren't high enough (they're independent), & trying for retransmission consent might keep the station off satellite.

 

[sdwulfdawg]

Basically, bandwidth. DTV and Dish Network simply can't squeeze in 4-15 more channels per market. They typically only carry sub-channels if the sub is affiliated with one of the major networks.

Also subscriber interest is pretty low.

Or else, they could just carry the national feed of the more popular subnets such as ME-TV, This TV, Antenna.....

 

[landtuna]

Or else, they could just carry the national feed of the more popular subnets such as ME-TV, This TV, Antenna.....

That's what I was thinking. It's not like they'd have to offer any of those services in HD.

We don't have Antenna in my market but I very rarely watch either of the other two. ThisTV seems to run older second tier movies (most of which I've never heard of and are seldom worth watching) and Me-TV airs old TV shows which you either like or don't. I didn't watch them then and don't watch them now.

 

[Darth_vader]

"I like your response to my handle, Darth. I created it probably as a byproduct of watching too many Flintstones reruns."

Actually it wasn't so much about your handle as what was written between it and the headline. (My handle has its origins in Hallowe'en, by the way.)

 

[kenglish]

Funny how the FCC required TV makers to include UHF way back in the early days, and required makers of analog sets to have a Digital tuner in the recent past, but they can't make satellite receivers include an OTA tuner nowadays.

 

[landtuna]

Funny how the FCC required TV makers to include UHF way back in the early days, and required makers of analog sets to have a Digital tuner in the recent past, but they can't make satellite receivers include an OTA tuner nowadays.

Why should they? If you have a cable or sat box and want a better OTA picture just hook up the OTA antenna to your TV set and, using the remote, select between sat and OTA. Every TV set sold today has multiple inputs - sat on HDMI and OTA on RF. Should be a piece of cake.

 

[ding12]

Funny how the FCC required TV makers to include UHF way back in the early days, and required makers of analog sets to have a Digital tuner in the recent past, but they can't make satellite receivers include an OTA tuner nowadays.

It'd make satellite TV even more uncompetitive against cable with higher box costs.

I cancelled Directv 5 years ago, but I remember back then the receivers had antenna inputs so you could pull in the subchannels OTA, and the program guide had listings for those channels. You could even record the subchannels to the DVR. I don't know if the newer receivers have that antenna input anymore.

The new receivers do not have integrated OTA tuners, but all Directv HD-DVR's since the HR21, plus the HD non-DVR H25, have the capability of connecting the external AM21N ATSC tuner. The AM21N has dual tuners and integrates the OTA channels into the guide. Few people wanted or cared about receiving subs or out of market channels, so Directv made the decision to offer the ATSC tuner as a $50 optional box.

Even TiVo is moved away from including it. From TiVo's site, only one of the three models has it still but it's the lowest model of the three.