Direc TV - Local Channels

Local Channels

DirecTV also offers local channels (CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, PBS, The CW, Telemundo, Azteca, MyNetworkTV, ION Television (in markets that carry that network), and some independent stations) in 99% of U.S. markets. In markets that lack a CW affiliate, DirecTV includes WDCW from Washington, D.C. or XETV from San Diego.

Subscribers located where they cannot receive a decent terrestrial television signal and/or live in a tiny market that only has a couple of stations can receive feeds from New York and Los Angeles for CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox, as well as a feed from the Washington, D.C. CW affiliate, though a waiver from the local affiliate stations may be required to allow this, approved at their discretion. National PBS and ION channels are also available.

In the largest markets, local channels are carried on the satellite at 101°W. In some smaller markets, the local channels are carried on a second satellite located at 119°W which requires a slightly larger dish with two or three LNBs or the newer K_a/K_u 5-LNB dish. In a few smaller markets, local stations are located on a satellite at 72.5°W that requires a second dish to be installed.

In late 2005, DirecTV began providing local HDTV channels to the largest markets, requiring newer receivers with a larger dish capable of receiving signals from up to five satellites at once. The K_u-band signals on the newer K_a/K_u dish are received from 101°W, 110°W, and 119°W, while K_a-band signals are from 99°W and 103°W.

Local television channels are transmitted over optical fiber links, K_u-band satellite uplink, microwave, and conventional terrestrial transmission to uplink centers located throughout the United States. DirecTV can provide true HD into hotels (Pro:Idiom). Cable companies have been able to provide true HD to hotels for over 2 years now with the installation of private video networks (FTTP to Coax conversion & Pro:Idiom) or with HFC HD video distribution systems (Pro:Idiom).