DirecTV Subscribers- Local Channels?

I have no need for locals but I do have waivers for all the networks. It has been noted here that waivers are tougher now so you may have to insist a bit.

Thanks Kurt.

I searched and found some info on here from a couple of years ago......do you have any suggestion as far as "insisting"? Any idea how can I lean on them a bit?

I searched and found some info on here from a couple of years ago......do you have any suggestion as far as "insisting"? Any idea how can I lean on them a bit?

Not sure since I haven't had to go through it for awhile. But from past dealings I'd say they probably are happy for you to pay for the networks (their surcharge) instead of getting free locals, they just need to jump through the hoops set up for them. If they give you any problem just let them know most of the people in your area have waivers because antennas are marginal.

If "leaning" fails, when we had DTV, we used a dish enhancer, for a lack of technical term, and it looked like a bent coathanger we placed on the top rim of the satellite dish. It allowed us to receive PCB channel 7 , 13 and Mobile 4. I will PM you a link to the website if I am able to locate it as It has been about 8 years since we had DTV> just a thought.

We had to call many times to get the local channels with DirectTV. We finally got East and West Coast FOX and CBS. I have not tried lately for ABC or NBC. I guess I just got used to watching my shows on the computer :roll:

You can get all locals, except cbs, if you have dish. And, if you have a dvr, a $30.00 attenna, from wal-mart will pull in ch 3. Direct tv, forget them. Don't think they'll ever offer locals.

I'm just across the county line, and with Directv we get the Pensacola-Mobile locals in high definition just fine to the point where we dropped out east coast/west coast feeds last year. (Only reason we kept them as long as we did was that I was addicted to 'Good Day L.A.' when I worked swing shift and had mornings off.)

Directv would love you to be able to sell you the distant networks; it's just they're legally not allowed to if they offer a comprable local network channel. There was a fairly long period of time when they could be pretty lax about who qualified for distant networks but they've had external pressure to crack down and be more compliant with the law in that regard.

We originally got our waiver when we lived in BFE Tennessee in the 90s, and they kind of let it float when we moved down here because we were existing customers (I think we had to fill out like one piece of paper to get ABC WEAR at one point). But for a couple years before we cancelled, we were told a couple of times that we could lose distant networks at any time because we could now get Mobile-Pensacola locals and under the law... blah, blah, blah.

But they just never got around to cancelling those for our system, and I suspect they would have continued to just let them slide until the FCC noticed. They are much, much stricter on giving out new waivers and we couldn't get our distant networks back if we tried.

I'm just across the county line, and with Directv we get the Pensacola-Mobile locals in high definition just fine to the point where we dropped out east coast/west coast feeds last year. (Only reason we kept them as long as we did was that I was addicted to 'Good Day L.A.' when I worked swing shift and had mornings off.)

Directv would love you to be able to sell you the distant networks; it's just they're legally not allowed to if they offer a comprable local network channel. There was a fairly long period of time when they could be pretty lax about who qualified for distant networks but they've had external pressure to crack down and be more compliant with the law in that regard.

We originally got our waiver when we lived in BFE Tennessee in the 90s, and they kind of let it float when we moved down here because we were existing customers (I think we had to fill out like one piece of paper to get ABC WEAR at one point). But for a couple years before we cancelled, we were told a couple of times that we could lose distant networks at any time because we could now get Mobile-Pensacola locals and under the law... blah, blah, blah.

But they just never got around to cancelling those for our system, and I suspect they would have continued to just let them slide until the FCC noticed. They are much, much stricter on giving out new waivers and we couldn't get our distant networks back if we tried.

So does this mean I should be asking them to provide me with the Mobile/Pensacola channels? They are insisting they don't offer any locals here; if that's the case, shouldn't I qualify for the distant locals? I dont care which ones I have, I just would like to have one or the other...

If they don't give local channels, and it appears they don't anywhere in Walton County unless you're one of the handful of people with a Niceville zip, then you should be able to get a distant stations waiver. But you may also need to get specific waivers from local stations in order to do so, and they can be rather stingy about giving new waivers.

You're not going to get the local channels via DirecTV. They have never offered them and probably never will. If you really need them, your only real option is to get a digital TV antenna / receiver, and hook it all to an A/B switch so you can bounce between satellite and local. You can get all of the network feeds on DirecTV way up in the channels, but if it's trully local, you may be outta luck.

I think they will eventually offer the Panama City locals if they can reach contract terms with the stations. They already carry not only Dothan but also Albany, GA, and Albany's one of the wee-est tv markets in the country.

Change to Dish. It is so much easier to get locals in HD. There boxes are way better as well. PIP, dual tuners, great DVR, etc.

Change to Dish. It is so much easier to get locals in HD. There boxes are way better as well. PIP, dual tuners, great DVR, etc.

NE, are you able to get CBS with Dish? If so, where is the station from?

To get cbs with dish, and if you have a dvr, got to wal-mart, get the $30.00 antenna, plug into the back of the dvr, and cbs will come in

To get cbs with dish, and if you have a dvr, got to wal-mart, get the $30.00 antenna, plug into the back of the dvr, and cbs will come in

I have em thinking I still live in Atlanta. Its kinda ;ike I still live in GA. I get all of the local Atlanta Channels (including CBS and the UGA Pregame/Postgame shows). I watch the Atlanta news (gangs, traffic, crime, corruption) and it reaffirms my decision to move hear 7 years ago.

I have em thinking I still live in Atlanta. Its kinda ;ike I still live in GA. I get all of the local Atlanta Channels (including CBS and the UGA Pregame/Postgame shows). I watch the Atlanta news (gangs, traffic, crime, corruption) and it reaffirms my decision to move hear 7 years ago.

When you stop watching that crap, you'll be a local. ;-)

To get cbs with dish, and if you have a dvr, got to wal-mart, get the $30.00 antenna, plug into the back of the dvr, and cbs will come in

I would like to get this antenna. Can you tell me specifically what to ask for-my experience with getting the right electronic gadget is not too good--and my experience with getting any help from the Walmart electronics section is even worse! Thanks.

I have em thinking I still live in Atlanta. Its kinda ;ike I still live in GA. I get all of the local Atlanta Channels (including CBS and the UGA Pregame/Postgame shows). I watch the Atlanta news (gangs, traffic, crime, corruption) and it reaffirms my decision to move hear 7 years ago.

I've often wondered about that. I have an extra box because I bought a DVR / receiver. I wonder if I buy an antenna and take the box down to the SRB house if my programming will be just like Atlanta?

Change to Dish. It is so much easier to get locals in HD. There boxes are way better as well. PIP, dual tuners, great DVR, etc.

...but they don't have the Sunday Ticket,,,

So I found a little more out from both Dtv and the FCC. If you live in an area where they don't provide locals (here) AND you pay to have someone come out and do an antenna test AND the reception is no good w/ the antenna THEN you will be granted a waiver from the local stations and be able to have the distant locals fed to you....of course, I have already applied for the waiver and they may grant it, but it seems from what Im hearing that this is not likely...

Just went through this. I got the waiver to all tha channels. No one came out to do an antenna test. We tried different antennas ourselves and they did not work. Now I am waiting on the waiver for the HD channels. Yes that is a different waiver. It is crazy that you can't get locals here. I was told when I moved here that Mediacom is the problem. Don't know if it is true. Don't care just want the networks.

Just went through this. I got the waiver to all tha channels. No one came out to do an antenna test. We tried different antennas ourselves and they did not work. Now I am waiting on the waiver for the HD channels. Yes that is a different waiver. It is crazy that you can't get locals here. I was told when I moved here that Mediacom is the problem. Don't know if it is true. Don't care just want the networks.

Are you with dish or Directv?