Just wondering if anybody else is confused and upset at the fact that local channels (Fox, ABC, etc) can't be picked up with a dish. The dish product is far superior in quality to cable, but cable has what seems to be a monopoly on local access. You can get basic cable and still get DSS, but then your cost goes up and you double up on several channels needlessly. Then, there is the antenna. It takes a high powered antenna to pick up ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox clearly in most areas. Without these channels in superior quality is the DSS worth it? Other than ESPN, what other channels are watched more daily? I want to buy a DSS system desperately due the picture and sound quality, not to mention the pay per view and sports packages, but I am bewildered about the local channel access. I would be delighted if I could just pick up a national broadcast of the 4 big ones. It's my understanding that this is only possible under certain quirky situations. In addition, local access is only going to be for major areas. I don't live in a major area (Lexington, KY), but it is not the BFE either. What is going to happen and what are your thoughts about the issue? Thanks.

local access is on right now in selected markets..
...ny, wash dc, la, etc,etc,.....and soon to be
announced in other markets (top 20 us markets),
by early spring, feb, march, april 2000.......and that is a definite.....check with directv for your area at 1-800-323-1994, and follow the voice prompts.......and thank your local politician as to why it was removed off of satellite a few years ago, and then delayed putting back on satellite.....WHY....big cable company lobbyists, and BIG cable company $$$$$$
buys off what THEY WANT........yea, yea, yea, corruption and graft still goes on ,,,,,,and on and on..............oooooowell

We got off of cable last year and on to satelite and couldn't be happier. Our cable (in the DC area) was constantly going out (1 or 2 times a month), picture quality was poor (there was always a hum in the signal), and we were receiving 30 channels (mostly garbage stations) for the price are paying for satelite. We were concerned about missing the local stations so I spent a $100 and installed a cheap antenna.

Our local stations come in decently with the antenna and to us it is not worth paying $6 a month to DirecTV to pull in 4 local stations. With over 100 channels on satelite we just don't miss the local stations. I understand this is a preference but the antenna that I bought sits mostly unused.

You can also go to directv web site to see if you can receive local without having to call them. [Link: directtv.com]

Local channels are now being broadcast in the Philadelphia area. They started sending abc,cbs,nbc, and fox on 12-11-99. They are sending these channels free to ALL the DTV customers in this marketplace for 30 day's. After that it's 5.99 a month. Still no word on UPN or WB.

DISH is offering locals now. In cities other than the big four. Tell Hughes to shove their substandard, overpriced product and go get the best DSS.