Fw: Dish Network and local station packages...

["Bill O'Neill" <billo@shoreham.net>]

FYI, I thought you might find this interesting.  It speaks as much to
_good_ "customer service" as it does to not insulting the intelligence
of the viewer inquiring.  I had queried WPTZ-TV (Ch. 5
Plattsburg-Burlington) Engineering via their website yesterday.  Per
below, their CE promptly replied.  I had inquired as to why WPTZ-TV
was the only one of the 4 major networks not served by Dish Network.
The other three are offered "a la carte" at about 2 bucks each per
month.  Most 4 station packages are about $5 per month.  I did reply
of the fact that the CBS, ABC and Fox affils. are available from the
bird.  Bill O'Neill

WPTZ's reply:

> Good day sir:
>
> My name is Andrew Lombard, Director of Engineering for WPTZ/WNNE.
>
> I am responding to your recent query about receiving local stations
on
> direct-to-home satellite.
>
> Dish Network and Direct TV offer local TV station packages for the
top 35 to 40
> markets in the US.
>
> The Burlington/Plattsburgh market is #91 and will not be added to
their
> available offerings anytime soon.
>
> The issue is not whether or not WPTZ is agreeable to have our signal
carried by
> the satellite providers, the issue is rather that neither DBS
service has the
> bandwidth available on their satellites to fit all of the local
stations all the
> way down to the 91st market.
>
> We would like nothing better than to be carried by these satellite
providers. It
> would mean that our viewers in mountainous areas would get a much
better signal.
> We would also pick up viewers that we did not previously have in our
fringe
> coverage area.
>
> Right now, those viewers who are unable to receive an acceptable
signal from
> their local stations can receive "distant-signals" from their
satellite
> provider.
>
> The policy for Hearst-Argyle, our parent company, is that any viewer
in our
> coverage area who desires to receive distant signals from a
satellite provider
> must qualify by having a test performed by an impartial third party
to determine
> signal strength and receivability at their location.
>
> If this test reveals that indeed the signal is unacceptable, then we
can grant
> what is called a waiver to the viewer so they may receive a signal
from Boston
> or New York. For your location that would be Boston.
>
> I know this is probably not the answer you were looking for, but I
would ask you
> to follow up on your request by petitioning your satellite provider
to carry the
> Burlington/Plattsburgh market.
>
> Please feel free to e-mail me anytime with your questions.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Andrew E. Lombard
> Director of Engineering
> WPTZ/WNNE