Can I receive local broadcast channels with a satellite dish?
In late 1999, Congress enacted the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA), which allowed satellite providers to expand their programming to include local broadcast stations. Currently, the two DBS providers, DIRECTV and DISH Network, offer local channels to consumers in many areas throughout the United States. To see a complete listing of the markets where local programming is available through either DIRECTV or DISH Network, please visit their respective Web sites at: www.directv.com and www.dishnetwork.com. Although both DIRECTV and DISH Network hope to continue to roll-out local channels in additional U.S. markets in the near future, they may be prevented from doing so because of the onerous nature of the satellite “must carry” law. Under satellite “must carry,” if a company broadcasts one local network station in a market area, it must broadcast all local network stations in this market area. As a result, satellite providers will be forced to broadcast many local stations th
