RE: Dish Network and local station packages...

["Paul Hopfgarten" <hopfgapr@sprynet.com>]

BTW:
It was reported recently in the Union-Leader (Manchester NH) that WNNE is
losing its nightly indepedent newscasts. The nightly news will be directly
from WPTZ and there will only be a 4 minute 'local edition' segment for the
WNNE watchers.

-Paul Hopfgarten
-Derry NH

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org
> [mailto:owner-boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org]On Behalf Of Bill
> O'Neill
> Sent: Monday, June 11, 2001 1:48 PM
> To: Boston Radio Interest
> Subject: Fw: Dish Network and local station packages...
>
>
> 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
>