C.21: Can I get my local networks over DBS?
Description
This article is from the Digital Broadcast Satellites FAQ, by Brian Trosko btrosko@primenet.com with numerous contributions by others.
C.21: Can I get my local networks over DBS?
No. The various DBS satellites serve the entire country,
and there are thousands of local affiliates.
DirecTV does offer a network package of NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox,
and PBS, but this is not available to everyone. Federal law
dictates that if you can receive your local affiliates over
a roof antenna, or have received them over cable at anytime
in the past 90 days, then DirecTV (or any other DBS provider) is
not allowed to sell you other broadcast affiliates. The
relevant sections of the US Code are available at:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/119.html.
If you want to order that package, DirecTV will ask you if
you can receive networks over a roof antenna, and if you have
had cable within the past 90 days. If the answer to either of
those questions is "yes," they will not sell you that package.
Dish Network offers something similar, but has recently added
a UPN affiliate. However, the UPN affiliate is not part
of their network package, being instead included in their
"America's Top 50" package, which is normally $25 per month.
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