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TV6 signed an agreement for satellite companies to carry local channels.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 6:43 p.m.

Read more: Local, Digital Transmission, Satellite, Agreement

NEGAUNEE -- There's good news for those of you who may lose local TV stations like TV6 after the Digital Transition on June 12.

Right now, those with satellite dishes can't pick up TV6 and other U.P. stations.

But TV6's Chief Engineer and Director of Operations, Sonny Reschka, says TV6 has signed an agreement with EchoStar Dish Network to house their equipment.

A similar agreement is expected to be reached with Direct TV by the end of April.

The deal would mean the satellite companies would carry all local channels on their satellite TV lineup.

"Both companies have indicated they want to have this done within the next two months, which would mean by the time we do the Digital Transition June 12, all those people who may lose over the air broadcasts would now have a choice to pick us up over satellite," said Reschka.

Reschka believes the change would increase TV6's audience by 20 percent.

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25 Comments on this Story
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; they are not reflective of the views or opinions of Barrington Broadcasting, TV6, its directors or employees. If you believe a comment violates the Barrington Terms of Use, please report it here.

Waiver denied 6 times

Posted by carolyn cornelia, amasa - Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 10:52 a.m.

tried 6 times now to get an abc station.always denied by the station located by u.belive wbup.are we ever going to be able to get an abc station from someone.or from somewhere.direct cant or wont give me any information,except that after 6 tries they dont see it getting approved.our local radio says that next month direct is going to give us our locals.true or false .can someone please give me a direct answer.thank you so much

Local Channels - Will they be offered in High Def or Standard Def only?

Posted by Mike W, Ishpeming - Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 8:46 p.m.

I have Direct TV and have High Definition Waivers for local channels ABC, FOX and CBS. NBC no waiver but that will be fixed when TV6 comes to DirectTV.

Will local channels be available in High Definition?

If no, will I lose my High Definition waivers I currently have with DirectTV for locals on ABC, FOX and CBS?

Direct TV Agreement yet?

Posted by Mike W, Ishpeming - Tuesday, June 09, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.

I know it was stated a "similar" agreement with Driect TV was in the works and should be in place by end of April. Has an agreement been reached with DirectTv?

As to last post why TV6 denies your waiver like mine for NBC out of New York/Los Anggeles? TV6 states you can pick upo their signat by Antenna thus you do not qualify for a waiver. The only way you will get TV 6 without an antenna going forward is when and if TV 6 signs deal with Direct TV. I can't believe they will not sign as they have an agreement with DISH and Direct TV offers more customers! All about $$ and we are stuck in the middle!

n/a

Posted by Susan Haluzak, Republic, MI - Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 10:52 a.m.

REALLY! If this is true, why did I get a notice yesterday, May 29th, saying that you denied Direct TV's waiver allowing access to an affiliate in New York or Los Angeles???!! So, again, how are we supposed to get your station??

Will local channels be the same as cable

Posted by Don Anderson, Gwinn - Monday, April 20, 2009 at 7:44 p.m.

I hope the local channels in the deal will be the same as cable, espeacially Fox channel 11 from Green Bay so we can watch the Packers. 80% of the fans in the U.P. are Packer fans.

this is a good thing

Posted by jim witz, skanee - Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 10:09 a.m.

but don't leave out those of us that have a contract with dish network.

When...

Posted by Dennis Johns, UP - Friday, April 17, 2009 at 12:39 a.m.

When will the local channels actually be available through the satellite companies though? Now? Before the DTV transition? This is good news, but a little more info would be better.

Local channels

Posted by lost in Covington still lost in Covington, covington michigan - Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 2:39 p.m.

It's about time they find we do exist and need the local news and weather!

Directv not all that good either

Posted by I got Directv, Rapid River - Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 1:50 p.m.

I have had DirecTV for 5 years now and when I first started I was paying $38 a month for basic package plus DVR (I work swing shift). Two months ago I was paying $69, for the same package. Almost doubled and seemed to go up a couple bucks every 3 months or so. I called Directv and complained and threaten to disconnect my service and they gave over $20 off without even thinking about it! If they gave me $20 off without thinking about it how much are they making off each and everyone of us! So I also agree with people on here it just another reason for Directv to jack up our rates. There no different than the local cable company! At least with the local cable company you can watch TV when it rains!

couldn't be happier

Posted by Yippy Skippy , Ishpeming - Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 1:10 p.m.

I switched from the local cable company to Direct TV over a year ago because i was sick of the rates going up and channels moving around so you had to 'buy up' to the higher packages to get what you like. I kept the very basic cable package so i would not lose the local stations. Heaven forbid we miss a Packer Game!
When i switched the basic package from Cable was $13 a month it has gone up almost every month until i am now paying over $17 a month. That is a 30% increase in one year. My Direct TV bill has not changed at all. I can't wait to cancel the cable when i can get the locals on Dish :-)

yes

Posted by yenti gaboogio, elo - Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 11:37 a.m.

We have been missing you guys since we moved to the boonies. Now if we couod just get "Mr Bill" Roth back too.

at last

Posted by rob juchemich, gwinn - Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 11:25 a.m.

i have been fighting with direct tv ever since the beginning of this government enforced hoax, and at last thanks to bart stupak tv 6/3 and all who fought to get local channals they are doing what they schould have done from the start. heres one for the U.P. p/s sonny you can delete all my past questions.

thank you!

Posted by lj rantala, alston - Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 10:54 a.m.

we haven't seen t.v. 6 news for over a year and miss it. thanks

HD

Posted by c michaels, marquette - Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 10:31 a.m.

If the station broadcast in HD then it will be carried in HD all signals will be digital June 12th there is not going to be analog thats what the convertors they are telling people they need do they take the digital signal and convert it back to analog for the people who have sets that are not digital ready say if you got a new tv 5 years ago then its not digital ready you will need the new box if you get over the air signals now if you have cable or sat. tv then this does not apply to you the carrier will have already taken care of this conversion for you your cable/sat box will already convert the signal for you

more money

Posted by some guy, mqt - Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 10:08 a.m.

While good and all it'll be just another excuse for them to raise rates.

Yeeee Haaaaa

Posted by Welcome back Civilization, Little Lake - Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 9:10 a.m.

Great news....but....I have the digital box and can still only pick up ch 6. I do have an antenna and a booster but still dont get chs. 3 and 10. Anyone have any idea how I can fix that?

locals on direct tv

Posted by jim savord, powers - Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 8:01 a.m.

Woohoo!!!!!

More info please

Posted by Beth Jones, Marquette - Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 4:18 a.m.

1-Is it known what local channels exactly will also be available through the satellite companies? It states "all local channels" in the article; but does that for a fact include ABC, CBS, etc?

2-Will any or all of the local channels that are available in HD on cable, also be available in HD through one or both of the satellite companies?

TV6 on DirecTV, at last !!!

Posted by Keith Wanhaaho, Elo, Michigan - Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 12:52 a.m.

For some time now, I went rounders and even pleaded to DirecTV about carrying my local stations in the Upper Peninsula on their program lists. They were making it all but impossible, and came up with one excuse or another. I was very pleased when I heard that Rep. Bart Stupak, was instrumental in getting the satellite cos. to start carrying true local stations and not the ones from either N.Y. or L.A. The only problem I had, was that I already had a chance to buy a real good quality UHF/VHF antenna, along with a long lenth of R-6, coaxil, weather boot, various fasteners, etc. These came to approx. imately $200.00. Being that I can't return any of them; I decided to hook it all up as a backup. This happens when the satellite looses its signal during heavy rain or snow. When this happens at least we can watch our locals, even when the dish is out of order. Also, this first timeline that I heard for getting local stations on the satellite, wasn't for another year or two. Now I find out that it will in the middle of June or so. Had I known that this process was going faster than expected, I would not have bought all that stuff to hook up a good outside off-air antenna. It sounds like things are headed the right way; yet I will believe it when TV6 is showing on our TV, through our dish.

Thanks TV 6!

Posted by Carolyn Laurin, Carney, Michigan - Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 10:23 p.m.

I have struggled trying to pick up TV 6 with my antennae and lately I haven't been picking it up. So this is really good news since TV 6 is my preferred channel in the morning and evening. I really feel the local and state news and weather reports pertain to me more than the Green Bay channels. Thank you TV 6! I can't wait until the end of April when TV 6 picks up Direct TV.

How many Channels?

Posted by Dwight Johnson, Ishpeming - Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 10:21 p.m.

I'd like to know how many channels will be affected

by this change. Also....does Channel 19 plan on going

digital? Their good for the weekend viewing but as of

now their picture comes and goes. Hate to think I put

up a antenna for nothing last fall. Lets have some facts

assumption

Posted by dennis barrette, E. of Dollar Bay - Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 9:28 p.m.

We are happy about this and assume we will have to pay an extra amount to get TV6 on our DishNetwork? With our current antenna on our home in a low lying area we were told we might not be able to pick up TV6 even with a new specialized antenna. Hopefully the cost from DishNetwork will be near the same amount we now pay for adding channels. We enjoy TV6's newscasts which are very well done! Thanks for pursuing this.

GOOD.

Posted by Flavor Dave, Marquette - Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 8:56 p.m.

Dish is better than Charter in every single way, except that Charter gets local channels.

Oh, I hope this works.

Finally!!!

Posted by K W, Ishpeming - Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 8:40 p.m.

It is about time DirecTv gets our local channels. I've been paying $3.00 a month extra for CBS and FOX out of NY and LA. It is interesting to get the news from there, but I'd really like to have the local news.

Digital Transmission on Directv

Posted by S N, In the sticks - Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 7:53 p.m.

About time!!!!!

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